NASA, ESA Spain Ground Stations Escape Major Wildfire Damage as 300,000 Evacuate
Updated
Updated · SpaceNews · Jul 26
NASA, ESA Spain Ground Stations Escape Major Wildfire Damage as 300,000 Evacuate
3 articles · Updated · SpaceNews · Jul 26
Summary
Initial inspections found NASA’s Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex suffered mainly pavement and vegetation damage, with no significant structural harm to antennas or buildings after a wildfire swept through the site.
NASA evacuated all personnel and shifted Deep Space Network control to Canberra and Goldstone, keeping spacecraft communications uninterrupted even as Madrid’s antennas have been offline since at least July 24.
ESA said its 35-meter deep-space station near Cebreros also appears unharmed, though crews still lack physical access for a full on-site assessment.
The disruption comes as the Deep Space Network already faces capacity strain, with Goldstone’s 70-meter antenna out until 2028 for repairs and upgrades.
Wildfires near Madrid are part of a broader outbreak across Spain and France tied to extreme heat and dry conditions, forcing nearly 300,000 evacuations by late July 25.