Other Centres

Bochum Radio Observatory, (West) Germany

A diverse array of tracking stations was called in to support the Apollo Program, but three new 85 foot (26m) tracking stations were built especially to support the missions – Honeysuckle Creek, Goldstone, and Fresnedillas (near Madrid).

These sites were near the existing DSN stations at Goldstone (DSS 11), Tidbinbilla (DSS 42), and Robledo de Chavela (DSS 61). Each of these had new buildings and receivers and other equipment were added to these DSN stations.

These nearby Unified S-Band tracking stations were known as “wing” stations. They were not complete MSFN stations but provided redundant antenna and USB equipment (transmitters and receivers). They had no Telemetry or Command computers and associated equipment – or the communications links to / from Houston and Goddard.

There was another reason for the wing stations. At lunar distances, the narrow beam width of the antennas at S-band meant that one antenna would be needed to track the orbiting Command / Service Module, while the other would track the Lunar Module.

In addition to the 85' antennae, there were many smaller stations in support roles. As well, NASA used the 210' (64 m) DSN antenna at Goldstone (DSS 14) and the 64m CSIRO Radio Telescope at Parkes, to assist with reception of TV and other data.