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Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex

Track spacecraft beyond the solar system

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schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026

The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC), also known as the Canberra Space Centre, is one of only three facilities in the world that form NASA's Deep Space Network, and it has been operating in the Tidbinbilla valley since 1965. The visitor centre showcases a Moon rock more than 3.8 billion years old, spacecraft models, Apollo memorabilia, and the decommissioned 26-metre antenna that relayed the first television images of the Apollo 11 Moon walk in 1969. Entry is free, and the working antenna array, including a 70-metre dish, can be observed from the grounds.

From tracking the Apollo Lunar Module to communicating with spacecraft exploring the outer solar system, the CDSCC has played a continuous role in humanity's reach into deep space for more than half a century. The visitor centre's two audio-visual theatres screen films on space exploration history and current missions, while interactive displays explain how radio signals spanning billions of kilometres are received and decoded in this quiet ACT valley.

The complex is managed jointly by CSIRO and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. School and community group bookings are accepted for educational presentations. The facility sits within Tourist Drive 5, a 73-kilometre scenic loop through the Tidbinbilla and Paddys River valleys, making it easy to combine with a visit to the nearby nature reserve. Visitors should note that mobile phone coverage in the area is limited and the nearest petrol station is approximately 25 kilometres away.

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Scenic views

Lookouts near Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex.

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