The historic 29-metre Overseas Telecommunications Commission (OTC) dish, which partially rotated for the first time last year, locked on to the position of geostationary object NSS-12.
The instrument was decommissioned in 1987, but was purchased by Canadian firm ThothX, which is now restoring it back to working order.
“I flew 18,000 kilometres from Canada to conduct this test and so, you can imagine, I was delighted when we managed to receive the first signals,” ThothX CEO Brendan Quine told the ABC.
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The dish’s restoration included flushing the bearings with fresh oil, cleaning the optics, and removing decades’ worth of pigeon droppings. Backed by a regional development grant, the next steps will involve repainting the antenna and installing new power systems.
The dish, which opened in 1966, provided high-speed data and voice communications for space missions and played a part in receiving the country’s first satellite TV broadcast, the Apollo 11 moon landing.
It comes after Space Connect reported last week how Kongsberg Satellite Services would build a 20-metre antenna in Western Australia that it hopes will support missions to the moon.
The Norwegian-based company is collaborating with Australian firm Starsite, which owns the land, on the project. Globally, Kongsberg Satellites Services has 300 antennas in 28 sites, including stations in Dubai, Singapore, Mauritius, and Tokyo.
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“The site, located in a region known for its low radio frequency (RF) environment and proximity to First Nations communities, provides optimal conditions for seamless lunar communications,” Kongsberg said.
“In addition to its strategic positioning, the area boasts resilient infrastructure, with reliable power and fibre connectivity, prepared to support critical operations of lunar missions, lunar and satellite operations.
“The area’s favourable climate, characterised by stable wind and rainfall patterns, ensures dependable performance. Moreover, the project is set to engage local contractors, fostering employment and supporting nearby Indigenous communities.”
Kongsberg hasn’t said the site’s exact location, but Starsite is based in Kojarena, north of Perth.
Australia has a long history of supporting lunar missions with its antennas, most notably with Canberra’s Deep Space Communication Complex.
Adam Thorn
Adam is a journalist who has worked for more than 40 prestigious media brands in the UK and Australia. Since 2005, his varied career has included stints as a reporter, copy editor, feature writer and editor for publications as diverse as Fleet Street newspaper The Sunday Times, fashion bible Jones, media and marketing website Mumbrella as well as lifestyle magazines such as GQ, Woman’s Weekly, Men’s Health and Loaded. He joined Momentum Media in early 2020 and currently writes for Australian Aviation and World of Aviation.
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