Published • loading... • Updated
Wildfire Forces Evacuation of NASA's Deep Space Network Complex in Spain
NASA evacuated all personnel and shifted spacecraft communications to California after flames passed through the observatory complex, officials said.
- On Friday, wildfires in Spain overran the Deep Space Communications Complex in Robledo de Chavela, a critical NASA facility used to communicate with Voyager, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the recently completed Artemis mission around the Moon.
- A summer heat wave and chronic drought conditions across Spain and France have primed forests for wildfires, prompting authorities to order evacuations for 60,000 people in the Spanish region and more than 19,000 in mountain towns west of Madrid.
- NASA successfully evacuated all personnel from the observatory, though it remains unclear if flames damaged sensitive equipment inside. "Any potential damage will be assessed when it is safe to do so," a NASA spokesperson said, adding a site assessment could happen as soon as Saturday.
- To ensure continuity of service, the agency seamlessly transitioned mission operations to the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex in California while the Madrid facility remains offline due to the fire.
- Temperatures are expected to shoot up again on Monday and keep climbing throughout the week, potentially worsening wildfires in Spain and France; the Madrid location remains vital to the Deep Space Network's status as the world's most sensitive telecommunications system.
Insights by Ground AI
13 Articles
13 Articles
The advance of a fire on the outskirts of Madrid led to the preventive withdrawal of personnel and the transfer of operations to California. The complex integrates the global network that guarantees the communications of the American space agency with probes and missions in deep space
·Paço de Arcos, Portugal
Read Full Article
Troops seek to protect a key facility for communications with space missions
·Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
Read Full ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left2Leaning Right4Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution40% Center, 40% Right
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources are Center, 40% of the sources lean Right
40% Right
L 20%
C 40%
R 40%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
