List of earth stations in Australia


A number of historic and current Earth (or ground) stations in Australia are used to communicate and track human-made satellites.
Many of the sites are associated with overseas government partnerships established generally with the United States, European Union, and Japan. They are generally run by various Australian Government agencies along with NASA, European Space Agency or the US Military.

Treaties

A number of treaties and other instruments associated with the stations:
DateCountryDetailsStation
United States Naval Research Laboratory and the Department of Supply of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia to establish the Minitrack Radio Tracking Station at Woomera.Island Lagoon Tracking Station
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory of the Smithsonian Institution and the Department of Supply of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia to establish Baker-Nunn Camera Optical Tracking Station at Woomera.Island Lagoon Tracking Station
The first formalised agreement between the US and Australia on Space Vehicle and Communication establishing the early tracking stations of 1957 as well as new stations at Woomera and Perth for Project Mercury, as well as a Deep Space Probe Radio Tracking Station at Woomera.Island Lagoon Tracking Station, Muchea Tracking Station
Transit Navigational Satellite Program for weather facilities - required an Earth station near Adelaide.Unknown
Extending the 1960 agreement to cover Carnarvon, Darwin and what would become Tidbinbilla/Orroral Valley Tracking Station for NASA Deep Space Radio Tracking.Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, Orroral Valley Tracking Station Carnarvon Tracking Station, Darwin Earth Station
Further formalisation of Tibinbilla and Orroral Valley Tracking Station for a Deep Space Radio Tracking Facility and a Wide Band Command and Data Acquisition Facility.Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, Carnarvon Tracking Station, Orroral Valley Tracking Station
Addition of a "Tracking and Data Acquisition Station, primarily for support of crewed flight, to be located near Canberra".Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station
Addition of an "Applications Technology Satellite facility at Cooby Creek, Darling Downs near Toowoomba." Cooby Creek Tracking Station
Confirming the present sites, and adding that a 210-foot-diameter antenna shall be established at the Tidbinbilla Deep Space StationCanberra Deep Space Communication Complex
Turn Around Ranging Station supporting the first Geostationary Meteorological Satellite Unspecified
Adding Yatharagga to US agreement.Yatharagga
Agreement between the Government of Australia and the European Space Agency for a Co-operative Space Vehicle Tracking ProgramOTC Satellite Earth Station Carnarvon, Perth International Telecommunications Centre
Confirming the list of active sites.no new sites
Turn Around Ranging Station supporting Geostationary Meteorological Satellite-2 Unspecified - possibly Crib Point Satellite Earth Station
Turn Around Ranging Station supporting Geostationary Meteorological Satellite-3 Unspecified - possibly Crib Point Satellite Earth Station
Further to the agreement of 1979 identification of sites as Carnarvon and Gnangara operated by the Overseas Telecommunications Commission and Parkes Radiotelescope of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.OTC Satellite Earth Station Carnarvon, Perth International Telecommunications Centre
Extending Pine GapPine Gap
Update of active stations to: Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, Yarragadee, and Alice Springs Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, Yatharagga, Pine Gap
Agreement to support the Geostationary Meteorological Satellite-4 through a Turn Around Ranging Station Crib Point Satellite Earth Station
DORIS Beacon agreementsYatharagga, Orroral Valley Tracking Station, Mount Stromlo Observatory
Agreement to support the Geostationary Meteorological Satellite-5 through a Turn Around Ranging Station Crib Point Satellite Earth Station
Extension of Pine Gap arrangementPine Gap
Removal of Yarragadee from the agreement.Yatharagga
Agreement with the US on what would become project ECHELON at the Australian Defence Satellite Communications StationAustralian Defence Satellite Communications Station
General agreementUnspecified
Addition of a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite Facility at Dongara.Dongara Satellite Station
Extension of 2010 agreement to 2014.N/A
Extension of 2012 agreement to 2018.N/A