NASA Blames Poor Training for $4.6 Million DSS-14 Antenna Damage
Updated
Updated · SpaceNews · Jun 16
NASA Blames Poor Training for $4.6 Million DSS-14 Antenna Damage
3 articles · Updated · SpaceNews · Jun 16
Summary
$4.1 million to $4.6 million in damage hit NASA’s 70-meter DSS-14 antenna after a Sept. 16 over-rotation, according to a newly released investigation report.
The report traced the Type A mishap to poor training, inadequate procedures and reliance on undocumented practices after a hydraulic limit system became inoperable and troubleshooting during Juno communications repeatedly drove the antenna into rotation limits.
More than 750,000 liters of water mixed with glycol flooded the antenna base when broken cables and hoses ruptured, and controllers caused additional damage while trying to stow the antenna.
NASA issued 20 recommendations, including prioritizing technical rigor over “personal heroics,” and is reviewing similar behaviors across both the Deep Space Network and Near Space Network.
DSS-14 will stay offline as it enters refurbishment through October 2028, though NASA says the rest of the 14-antenna network has so far absorbed communications demand, including during April’s Artemis 2 mission.