Project Title

NASA / McMurdo Ground Station (MG1)

Summary

Event Number:
T-927-M
NSF / NASA Agreement

Program Director:
Mr. Pat Smith

ASC POC/Implementer:
John Rand / Carrie Piesen

Principal Investigator(s)

Mr. Mark Harris
mark.a.harris@nasa.gov
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Wallops Flight Facility

Project Web Site:
https://esc.gsfc.nasa.gov/

Location

Supporting Stations: McMurdo Station
Research Locations: McMurdo Station

Description

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) McMurdo Ground Station (MG1), managed by Mr. Mark Harris, SENSE DTE Program Manager (Peraton Corporation), is a 10-meter antenna housed in a large radome located on a ridge overlooking McMurdo Station. It is used primarily for data recovery from polar-orbiting science and environmental remote sensing satellites. MG1 also provides launch and early operations phase (LEOP) support for launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base involving satellite missions that require downrange telemetry; telemetry and command for satellite housekeeping; recovery from satellite operational emergencies. In collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Environmental Satellite and Data Information Service, the MG1 recovers data for the EUMETSAT MetOp polar weather satellites. NASA also has a McMurdo Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) Relay System (MTRS) ground terminal at Crater Hill for high-speed data transfers of MG1 data. MTRS uses high-inclination TDRS satellites visible above the local horizon.

Field Season Overview

Annual ongoing maintenance and support of McMurdo Ground Station antennas, radomes, and associated devices and equipment. This project maintains a year-round presence of two persons and plans to deploy one additional mechanic during the summer season this year.

Deploying Team Members