The Near Space Network provides communications and navigation services for Orion during launch, Earth orbit operations, and splashdown re-entry. It uses two main infrastructure components:
Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) Fleet — Geosynchronous relay satellites that provide near-continuous coverage of Orion during Earth orbit phases, passing voice, video, and telemetry between the spacecraft and ground.
Global Ground Station Network — Earth-based antennas around the world that pick up Orion's signal during re-entry and splashdown when the TDRS relay geometry is less favorable.
The Deep Space Network takes over as Orion travels beyond geosynchronous orbit toward the Moon. The DSN is a worldwide array of large dish antennas — clustered at three strategic sites roughly 120° apart — providing continuous coverage regardless of Earth's rotation.
The DSN carries all Orion communications during the lunar transit and flyby — including voice, video, commands, and science data. The dashboard's DSN panel reflects live antenna activity from this same network.
The NSN and DSN work together for precision navigation using a technique called three-way Doppler tracking. With one or more ground stations from each network in simultaneous contact with Orion, flight controllers calculate the spacecraft's precise location by measuring the Doppler shift of its radio signal as received from multiple angles.
This enables flight controllers to:
Precisely calculate Orion's position along its trajectory at all times
Adjust the flight path if trajectory corrections are needed
Provide accurate re-entry corridor coordinates for splashdown targeting
Artemis II will demonstrate an advanced communications capability during flight: laser (optical) communications. This is a first for a crewed spacecraft on a deep space mission.
Laser communications use infrared light rather than radio waves to transmit data. Because infrared light has much shorter wavelengths than radio waves, spacecraft can pack significantly more data into each transmission — translating to higher-bandwidth science returns and clearer crew communications on future long-duration missions.
If successful, laser communications will become a key capability for future Artemis missions, Gateway operations, and eventually deep space exploration to Mars — where the volume of scientific and crew data will far exceed what radio links can efficiently carry.
Near Space Network TDRS satellites and ground stations provide communications through SLS ascent, MECO, and Earth orbit checkout phases.
Both NSN and DSN share coverage as Orion climbs to the highly elliptical orbit. Three-way Doppler navigation confirms trajectory before Translunar Injection burn.
Deep Space Network carries all communications. One-way signal travel time at lunar distance: ~1.3 seconds. DSN stations rotate through coverage as Earth rotates.
Near Space Network resumes primary coverage. During the 3–4 minute peak heating blackout of re-entry, all signal is lost — then resumes at parachute deployment altitude.
The DSN panel on this dashboard polls live data from NASA's Eyes on the DSN feed every 30 seconds, showing which antennas at Goldstone, Madrid, and Canberra are currently in contact with Orion and what data rates are being achieved. The signal pill in the top bar reflects overall link status.