Picture Album of the
DEEP SPACE NETWORK

Profile of Deep Space Communications Capability

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This chart illustrates the real growth of deep-space communications capability from 1960 to 1994 and projected growth to the year 2020. Real growth has improved by 12 orders of magnitude, while another three orders of magnitude are forecast for the future.

The increase in performance is due to a series of innovative cooperative improvements in both spacecraft and ground systems. Key factors include higher operating frequencies, improved coding techniques, spacecraft with higher power and larger antennas, and ground systems with lower noise amplifiers and larger antennas.

1950's      1960's      1970's      1980's      1990's