Before any work on DSS-43 begins, as seen from the Operations Building.
The station’s cricket pitch (visible at centre) will have to go to make way for the giant dish. Undated, but some time in 1969.
Scan: Glen Nagle, CDSCC.
DSS-43 Construction
Construction started in December 1969, and DSS-43 was opened on 13 April 1973.
Although not completed, it was operational enough to be able to support Apollo 17 in December 1972.
Here is a series of photos of the construction of DSS-43, more-or-less in chronological order.
Do you have any others? (Contact.)
Thanks to Clive Jones, Mike Dinn and Bruce Window for the bulk of these photos.
Unless otherwise noted, scans by Colin Mackellar.
Larger versions of some of these photos available on request.
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Before any work on DSS-43 begins, as seen from the Operations Building. The station’s cricket pitch (visible at centre) will have to go to make way for the giant dish. Undated, but some time in 1969. Scan: Glen Nagle, CDSCC. |
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The cricket pitch is no longer there! Scan: Glen Nagle, CDSCC. |
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Early excavation for the foundations. Undated. Transparency and scan: Bruce Window. |
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Early excavation for the foundations. Undated. Transparency and scan: Bruce Window. |
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Early excavation for the foundations. Undated. |
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Here’s a wider view of the station, taken from Larry’s Hill, probably January 1970. |
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27 January 1970. |
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On 24 February 1970, NASA Administrator Dr Thomas O. Paine visited Tidbinbilla. He is seen here with Station Director Tom Reid and party inspecting the initial work on the foundations for DSS-43. L-R: ?, Willson Hunter (NASA Senior Scientific Rep. to Australia), Tom Reid, Dr. Paine, ?, ?, ?, ?. More photos of Dr Paine’s visit in the Visitors section. Photo Clive Jones via Mike Dinn. Scan Colin Mackellar. |
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On 24 February 1970, NASA Administrator Dr Thomas Paine visited Tidbinbilla (and Honeysuckle). He is seen here with Station Director Tom Reid and party inspecting the initial work on the foundations for DSS-43. Credits as above. |
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On 24 February 1970, Station Director Tom Reid showed NASA Administrator Dr Thomas Paine the progress on DSS-43. Credits as above. |
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10 March 1970, the pedestal formwork rises from the ground. Scan: Glen Nagle, CDSCC. |
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Undated. Photo and scan by Bruce Window. |
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Undated. Photo and scan by Bruce Window. |
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Undated. About the same time as the photo above. |
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27 May 1970. |
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Undated. |
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June 1970. Photo and scan: Cheryl Moore. |
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16 July 1970. The Pedestal takes shape. |
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Scan: Glen Nagle, CDSCC. |
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Undated. Photo and scan by Bruce Window. |
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Hard work! Undated. |
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Undated. |
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28 October 1970. |
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Undated. |
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Undated. Photo and scan by Bruce Window. |
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10 November 1970. Scan: Glen Nagle, CDSCC. |
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Undated. |
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Undated. |
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Undated. |
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Undated. |
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DSS-43 from just outside the Operations Building. Undated. |
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28 October 1970. |
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Undated. |
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Undated. |
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Undated. Photo and scan by Bruce Window. |
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Undated. Photo and scan by Bruce Window. |
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This photo was featured in the Manned Space Flight Network’s Technical Information Bulletin, Volume 8, Number 8, June 17, 1971. This copy preserved by Hamish Lindsay. Scan: Colin Mackellar. |
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21 March 1971. The Alidade (the structure on which the Dish will be mounted) is being erected. Left photo of panorama (see below). |
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21 March 1971. Right photo of panorama. |
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21 March 1971 – joining photos taken from the roof of the Operations Building. |
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Tom Sheehan took this photo, and the three below, during a visit to the western half of the MSFN in April 1971. Note DSS42, the original Tidbinbilla antenna, behind the Operations Building. |
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April 1971. Looking from behind the Operations Building. DSS42 is out of frame to the right. At right is the microwave link tower to Honeysuckle. Transparency and scan: Tom Sheehan. |
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April 1971. Transparency and scan: Tom Sheehan. |
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April 1971. Transparency and scan: Tom Sheehan. |
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The elevation bearing assembly is lifted into place. 8x10" print with thanks to Stew Burton. Scan: Colin Mackellar. |
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The elevation bearing assembly is now in position.
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The central section of the Primary Reflector structure is now in place in this photo taken 9 October 1971. Photo: Ken Mackellar. |
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Detail from the above photo, with the Tidbinbilla operations building and the 26 metre DSS-42 antenna. Photo: Colin Mackellar, 9th October 1971. |
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26 October 1971. Scan: Glen Nagle, CDSCC. |
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Panels for the primary reflector structure are installed. 8x10" print with thanks to Stew Burton. Scan: Colin Mackellar. |
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Mike Dinn took this photo from his office in late 1971. |
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Scan: Glen Nagle, CDSCC. |
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Scan: Glen Nagle, CDSCC. |
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DSS43 as seen from high on the crane. Photo preserved by Les Whaley. |
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Scan: Glen Nagle, CDSCC. |
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22 February 1972. Scan: Glen Nagle, CDSCC. |
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29 February 1972. Scan: Glen Nagle, CDSCC. |
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Scan: Glen Nagle, CDSCC. |
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Panorama taken from near the cafeteria. DSS42 and the Operations & Engineering Building are at right. Bruce Window suggests the picture “would be dated somewhere between March 1972 and June 1972; because Preserved by Les Whaley. Scan: Colin Mackellar. |
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Scan: Glen Nagle, CDSCC. |
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Lifting the feedcone. Scan: Glen Nagle, CDSCC. |
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13 April 1973, Opening Day! (More opening day photos here.) Scan: Glen Nagle, CDSCC. |
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Some time after construction is complete: DSS-43 – with the original DSS-42 at left – as seen from Larry’s Hill. From the Tidbinbilla archives. Scanned by Glen Nagle. |