The new deep space antenna is being constructed to address the increasing capacity demands of ESA's programs. The need for deep space ground stations has grown substantially in recent years due to the emergence of new, data-intensive missions.
The New Norcia 3 antenna will enable spacecraft to transmit and receive greater volumes of critical data from onboard scientific instruments, as well as essential flight commands for mission operations. It will support missions involving Telespazio Germany, including BepiColombo’s journey to Mercury, JUICE’s exploration of Jupiter’s icy moons, and HERA’s detailed post-impact analysis of a target asteroid.
Telespazio Germany’s Station Engineer, Luca Foiadelli, oversees the operational validation of the NN3O – New Norcia 3 deep space antenna. His role involves managing both local and remote (automated) operations and facilitating the seamless transition of the antenna from the engineering department (supplier) to the operational department (end user).
The Station Engineer is tasked with maintaining and operating the station, encompassing a range of responsibilities. These include managing ESTRACK station operations, configuring station and operational settings, providing support during system upgrades, analyzing incidents and managing problems, performing preventive and corrective maintenance, and handling repair and spare part requests.
In the context of HERA he covered the role of ESTRACK Mission Coordinator:
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Supported the designated Operations Managers in providing ESTRACK facilities and services for the HERA mission during both the preparation and operation phases.
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Prepared the HERA Station Plan.
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Developed the configuration for the 35-meter Deep Space ESTRACK station based on mission requirements and the results of the RF Compatibility Test.
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Specified the requirements for station monitoring and control to enable remote and automated operations.
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Assisted the Operations Manager during the first acquisition at the New Norcia station.