ESA inaugurates New Norcia 3, a milestone in deep-space communication
The European Space Agency (ESA) marked a significant expansion of its deep-space communication network with the inauguration of the New Norcia 3 antenna in Western Australia. Located in New Norcia, about 115 kilometres north of Perth, the facility is set to meet rapidly growing data-download needs and reinforce Europe’s leadership and independence in space missions.
A strategic investment with broad implications
Speaking at the ceremony on 4 October, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher underscored the project’s strategic importance: “This investment reinforces ESA’s deep-space communication capabilities and maximises the return of our missions’ most valuable asset: data delivered from spacecraft voyaging far from Earth.” The antenna’s construction aligns with Europe’s intent to cultivate strong, long-term partnerships in the Asia‑Pacific region, including a new cooperative framework with Australia as negotiations to formalise a cooperation agreement begin.
From concept to construction: European and Australian collaboration
Construction of New Norcia 3 began in 2021 and was completed on schedule. The project stands as a testament to the capabilities of ESA, European industry, and Australian partners. By 2026, when the antenna enters service, it will support ESA’s flagship missions across scientific research, planetary exploration, and space safety. Missions such as Juice, Solar Orbiter, BepiColombo, Mars Express, and Hera will benefit from enhanced data return, while upcoming programs like Plato, Envision, Ariel, Ramses and Vigil will rely on this state-of-the-art facility.
A node in the Estrack network with global reach
As part of the Estrack network, New Norcia 3 will also enable international collaboration. The antenna supports mutual cross‑support arrangements, enabling assistance to other space agencies—including NASA, JAXA, and ISRO—as well as commercial missions. This broad interoperability aims to maximize science returns and operational efficiency for all partners involved.
Technical excellence: cutting-edge capabilities
New Norcia 3 is ESA’s most technologically advanced deep-space antenna to date. It features cryogenically cooled components, reaching around -263°C, which makes it exceptionally sensitive to faint signals from distant spacecraft. This capability is crucial for extracting high data rates from far-flung missions and for ensuring robust operations even when signals are weak.
A symbol of partnership and economic opportunity
New Norcia’s role extends beyond science. It represents a strong international partnership with Australia, which ESA highlights as delivering substantial local economic value and employment opportunities over the station’s projected 50-year lifetime. Australia’s national space agency leader, Enrico Palermo, emphasised the broader benefits: the investment could unlock millions of dollars in value and deepen the collaboration between Europe and Australia in space, communications, and mission operations.
Events and leadership at the inauguration
The opening ceremony featured ESA’s leadership, including Aschbacher, ESA’s Director of Operations Rolf Densing, and Enrico Palermo of the Australian Space Agency, alongside Western Australian government figures. The event underscored the ongoing collaboration between European and Australian institutions as both sides seek to advance shared space capabilities and opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region.
Economics, governance, and the road ahead
The project carries an estimated cost of EUR 62.3 million, covering procurement, construction, and facility upgrades, with EUR 3 million contributed by the Australian Space Agency to support station evolution. European contractors led the build, with Thales Alenia Space and Schwartz Hautmont Construcciones Metálicas at the helm, and substantial Australian subcontracting involvement from TIAM Solutions, Thales Australia, Fredon, and Westforce Construction. The alliance paint a picture of a resilient, knowledge-based economy anchored in space infrastructure.
Looking forward
With New Norcia 3 joining the fleet in the mid-2020s, ESA strengthens its global network and reaffirms its commitment to open, cooperative space exploration. The project not only boosts data capabilities for Europe’s most ambitious missions but also invites broader international participation, turning the New Norcia facility into a shared asset for global science and technology advancement.
