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ARCHIVED NASA Space Communications and Navigation
@NASASCaN
This account has been sunset. For news on NASA networking and navigation capabilities, check out @NASASpaceOps, @NASA_Technology, and other NASA accounts.
Washington, DC
nasa.gov/scan
Joined December 2012
222
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  • user avatar
    ARCHIVED NASA Space Communications and Navigation
    @NASASCaN
    Oct 16, 2024
    Voyager 1, we read you! 📡 A historic first, NASA’s Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex (MDSCC) arrayed all six antennas to receive data from @NASAVoyager earlier this year. The spacecraft is sending signals through interstellar space from nearly 16 billion miles away.
    A nighttime image shows green grassy hills with six white radio frequency antennas spread out over the area. All six antennas that are part of the Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex have red lights on in the center of each dish and are pointing to the right. Two antennas are farther back along the hills, while the other four are grouped closer together toward the right of the image. The four grouped antennas are more illuminated with light coming from smaller buildings around them on the ground.
    588K
  • user avatar
    ARCHIVED NASA Space Communications and Navigation
    @NASASCaN
    Jan 11, 2022
    🤔How do we “talk” with @NASAWebb? 🚀Launch was a team effort including @NASA's @NearSpaceNet, @esa, and NASA's Deep Space Network. 📡As the spacecraft travels to L2, nearly 1 million miles from Earth, the #DSN will continue enabling communications. go.nasa.gov/about-dsn
    An illustration of the Earth and the Moon. The text reads: "Communicating with Webb after Launch. First Contact: Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) - NASA SCaN's Near Space Network; Second Contact: Malindi - ESA's Extended Estrack Network; Third Contact: Canberra - NASA SCaN's Deep Space Network; Fourth Contact: Malindi - ESA's Extended Estrack Network; Fifth Contact: Madrid - NASA SCaN's Deep Space Network; Sixth Contact: Goldstone - NASA SCaN's Deep Space Network; Seventh Contact: Canberra - NASA SCaN's Deep Space Network."
  • user avatar
    ARCHIVED NASA Space Communications and Navigation
    @NASASCaN
    Jan 5, 2023
    NASA's TDRS-9 satellite has reached its end of mission, surpassing its planned 15-year mission life. The TDRS fleet provides relay comm services for NASA missions, including @Space_Station, and will continue supporting key operations over the next decade. go.nasa.gov/3GI0NRE
    An artist's illustration of the second generation Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) with Earth in the background.
    842K
  • user avatar
    ARCHIVED NASA Space Communications and Navigation
    @NASASCaN
    Jun 22, 2022
    They're a 9 AND they stay in contact one million miles away—that’s a 10 in our books. @NASAWebb keeps in touch via the Deep Space Network even one million miles from Earth. On July 12, Webb's first images will be revealed. Join the countdown: go.nasa.gov/3M9PeT1
    Artist conception of the James Webb Space Telescope.
  • user avatar
    ARCHIVED NASA Space Communications and Navigation
    @NASASCaN
    Jan 24, 2022
    .@NASAWebb is nearing L2! So, how does @NASA communicate with spacecraft that are thousands or even millions of miles from Earth? The Deep Space Network, that’s how! Operators at the #DSN precisely aim giant radio antennas at spacecraft and send commands using radio waves.
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    ARCHIVED NASA Space Communications and Navigation
    @NASASCaN
    Feb 14, 2022
    One million miles from Earth makes the heart grow fonder.😍 You're looking good out there, @NASAWebb! Our Deep Space Network will keep us in touch this #ValentinesDay.😘 #NASAValentines
    A Valentine’s Day illustration of the James Webb Space Telescope in space. A radio wave connects Webb with a Deep Space Network antenna on Earth. The text reads: “Cold, cold mirrors/Moved just a slew/Our comms lookin’ better, baby/Just passin’ to L2”
  • user avatar
    ARCHIVED NASA Space Communications and Navigation
    @NASASCaN
    Mar 4, 2025
    We officially used GPS on the Moon! The LuGRE payload on #BlueGhost acquired & tracked Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals on the Moon! These results suggest that GPS signals could be used by future exploration missions – like @NASAArtemis. go.nasa.gov/3DguHxD
    A visualization of LuGRE's world records in transit to, in lunar orbit, and on the Moon. The graphic shows the progression from Record 1 at 205,674 miles to Record Two at 243,000 miles and then Record 3 on the Moon. The Earth in the top left corner and Moon toward the right side.
    144K
  • user avatar
    ARCHIVED NASA Space Communications and Navigation
    @NASASCaN
    Jan 3, 2023
    Just like your phone needs Wi-Fi or data services to text or call – @NASA spacecraft need communication services. Check out the top ten space comm moments in 2022 for space communications and navigation! bit.ly/3VGnMB1
    Image of the white DSN 34-meter antenna lit up against a dark black sky in Madrid, Spain. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
    The ILLUMA-T payload in a Goddard cleanroom with a covered optical module and various wires and simulators. Credit: NASA/Taylor Mickal
    Two engineers look across the vast Arizona desert as they test new 4G and 5G communications technologies. Credit: NASA/Glenn Research Center
    NASA’s Orion spacecraft in space looking at the Moon from a camera mounted on one of its solar arrays. The Orion spacecraft appears in the foreground. The Earth and the Moon appear in the far distance against the blackness of space. The Moon appears just slightly larger than Earth. Credit: NASA
    319K
  • user avatar
    ARCHIVED NASA Space Communications and Navigation
    @NASASCaN
    Jan 24, 2022
    Welcome to your new home, @NASAWebb! We'll keep in touch. 📡~~~🛰️
    GIF
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    NASA Webb Telescope
    NASA
    @NASAWebb
    Jan 24, 2022
    🏠 Home, home on Lagrange! We successfully completed our burn to start #NASAWebb on its orbit of the 2nd Lagrange point (L2), about a million miles (1.5 million km) from Earth. It will orbit the Sun, in line with Earth, as it orbits L2. blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2022/01/2… #UnfoldTheUniverse
  • user avatar
    ARCHIVED NASA Space Communications and Navigation
    @NASASCaN
    Jan 28, 2022
    Space communication is critical to every @NASA mission, just as children's communication skills are essential on Earth. Now you can learn about both with these SCaN-themed speech therapy activities created in collaboration with Therapy Materials Vault! bit.ly/3fYR9w8
    An illustration of astronauts in space communicating with each other.
  • user avatar
    ARCHIVED NASA Space Communications and Navigation
    @NASASCaN
    Mar 14, 2022
    Happy #PiDay! Can you calculate the circumference of one of our giant 70-meter in diameter Deep Space Network antennas? Send us your answers in the replies!
    image of a deep space network antenna with a dimension labeled across (70 meters in diameter)
  • user avatar
    ARCHIVED NASA Space Communications and Navigation
    @NASASCaN
    Feb 25, 2025
    SCaN supports @NASA’s endeavor to explore the Moon, Mars, & beyond. Two of our lunar projects will use data from the IM-2 mission to bring the same 4G/LTE cellular technology used by billions of devices on Earth to @NASAArtemis astronauts. go.nasa.gov/3F65OoI
    Alt Text: We see an artistic representation of the IM-2 lander, standing tall on the lunar surface.
    70K
  • user avatar
    ARCHIVED NASA Space Communications and Navigation
    @NASASCaN
    Jan 5, 2022
    Replying to @NASAWebb @NASAEarth and 2 others
    Long distance relationships aren't a problem for our Deep Space Network. 😏
  • user avatar
    ARCHIVED NASA Space Communications and Navigation
    @NASASCaN
    Jan 5, 2022
    The Deep Space Network has observed about 400 near-Earth asteroids to date, and now you can keep your eyes on asteroids too! 👀 @NASA's new 3D real-time visualization tool lets you explore asteroids and comets that approach Earth’s orbital neighborhood: go.nasa.gov/3oGKo71
    A screen capture of NASA's Eyes on Asteroids
    Asteroid Bennu on NASA's Eyes on Asteroids 3D real-time web-based application.
    A 34-meter antenna at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex near Barstow, California.