Enabling & Support

Santiago station

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The Santiago station terminals (AGO-7m,-9m,-11m,-12m) provide tracking capabilities in S-band (transmit & receive) and L- and X-band (receive); the station is operated by SSC Chile, a wholly owned subsidiary of the SSC, and is used by ESA for regular communications with XMM-Newton, as well as back-up coverage for other missions.

Location

The coordinates of the 12m antenna are -33° 08', -70° 40' , and it lies at 730.853 metres with respect to the WGS-84 reference ellipsoid.

The Santiago site is situated 38 km North of Santiago, Chile, in the foothills of the Andes and occupies an area of 100 hectares

Facilities & technology

The station hosts 7-, 9-, 11- and 12-m antennas that transmit and receive signals in S-, L- and X-band wavelengths, plus facilities for tacking, telemetry, telecommand and radiometric measurements (ranging, Doppler, meteo). By the end of 2011, a new 13 mt antenna with S-band uplink/downlink capabilities will become operational. This antenna will have X and Ku-band upgrade capabilities.

The station has a frequency and timing system, a monitoring and control system and communications are enabled via a remote terminal located in ESOC's Ground Facilities Control Centre (GFCC). The site is equipped with a no-break power plant.

Operations

The station has been in operation for over 50 years. For ESA, Santiago provides routine operations support to XMM-Newton and back-up support to missions.

The station also provides telecommunications and hosting services for other satellite operators worldwide, including NASA, CNES, DLR, Telespazio, SSTL and JAXA