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Goldstone DSN Trip (66 images)

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Getting ready to board the NASA-7 aircraft at Burbank airport Lew Kendall, from the Ball ADCS team, prior to takeoff David Holshouser, from the Ball FSW team Garrett Elliott, an intern from Ohio State University Jay Melosh, one of the Deep Impact scientists, from the University of Arizona The Mojave Desert, as viewed from the plane during our flight to Goldstone The Mojave Desert, as viewed from the plane during our flight to Goldstone After landing, you could see the tips of a couple dishes near the runway Lew and David after landing An example of an RF filter used to separate frequencies. Higher frequencies pass through the honeycomb-patterned section. Lower frequencies are reflected. A model of the 70m dish that we saw later in the afternoon A model of a drive mechanisms for tilting a dish DSS-13, a 34-meter 'beam-waveguide' dish Inside (or below actually) DSS-13. In the center of the frame is the Ka-band feed horn and associated electronics. On the far right is the X-band feed horn. Inside DSS-13. You can see the Ka- and X-band feed horns as well as the RF filter which separates the frequencies. Inside DSS-13. Another Ka-band feed horn (white) and the S-band feed horn (small silver cone just below the second RF filter). The whole setup underneath the DSS-13 dish. You can see the main reflector (yellow) which rotates to direct the RF beam to various filters and reflectors. The RF beam comes through the large hole in the ceiling. The high-power transmitter test facility at DSS-13 The 250,000 watt transmitter at the test facility David leaning on the 250,000 watt transmitter DSS-27, a 34-meter 'beam-waveguide' dish DSS-27, a 34-meter 'beam-waveguide' dish DSS-27, a 34-meter 'beam-waveguide' dish DSS-27, a 34-meter 'beam-waveguide' dish David Holshouser near the main Goldstone offices David Acton near the main Goldstone offices Stef McLaughlin near the main Goldstone offices David, Lew, and David near the main Goldstone offices DSS-12, a dish used by university students A pair of 34-meter dishes DSS-24, a 34-meter 'beam-waveguide' dish David in front of DSS-24 David and Lew in front of DSS-24 A nearby 34-meter dish set in a valley The entrance tunnel to DSS-24 Inside DSS-24 Inside DSS-24. The red hoses are the cooling system for the low-noise amplifiers. Inside DSS-24. This rack contains the low-noise amplifiers, RF switches, and other electronics for the Ka-band system. The whole setup inside DSS-24. David and David down the road from DSS-14 Garrett and Stef down the road from DSS-14 DSS-14, the 70-meter dish, alongside the DSS-15 34-meter dish DSS-14, the 70-meter dish DSS-14, the large 70-meter dish The sun peeking through the DSS-14 dish The plaque at DSS-14, also called 'Mars Station' since the facility was built to support Mars missions David, Lew, and David climbing aboard the DSS-14 structure Stef and Garrett climbing aboard the DSS-14 structure The high-pressure pumps at DSS-14 which service the hydrostatic bearing on which the large dish turns Some of the instrumentation inside DSS-14 The cables inside the rotating portion of DSS-14 The main control room in which all operations are performed The main control room in which all operations are performed The main control room in which all operations are performed David and Lew checking out the rack of hardware used in processing the data streams from the antennas One of dozens of hardware racks with data-processing equipment Boarding the NASA-7 aircraft for the flight home Boarding the NASA-7 aircraft for the flight home Everyone strapped in, ready for takeoff The dishes near the runway, as viewed during takeoff The dishes near the runway, as viewed during takeoff The foothills north of the Los Angeles metro area, during our flight back from Goldstone Three of the 34-meter dishes, as viewed from the commercial jet during our flight back to Denver a few days after the Goldstone trip The dry lake bed near the runway, as well as some dishes, as viewed from the commercial jet during our flight back to Denver a few days after the Goldstone trip Ft. Irwin, the army base on which the Goldstone facility is located, as viewed from the commercial jet during our flight back to Denver a few days after the Goldstone trip Ft. Irwin, the army base on which the Goldstone facility is located, as viewed from the commercial jet during our flight back to Denver a few days after the Goldstone trip