Picture Album of the
DEEP SPACE NETWORK

Suitcase Telemetry Station, Madagascar

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As a result of the first six Ranger mission failures, the importance of obtaining spacecraft telemetry data during the launch phase became clear. To compensate for the uncertainty in the trajectories, it was necessary to have quickly transportable equipment. This led JPL to develop and deploy two telemetry receivers. The photo in the upper left shows the antenna and associated vehicle rented at Madagascar's Fort Dauphin Airport to transport personnel and equipment to the site. The photo in the lower left shows the site at Fort Dauphin, looking to the south over the harbor. The antenna acquired the Mariner 4 signal approximately two minutes before the expected rise time and maintained communication for about 2-1/2 minutes. A second, duplicate, suitcase station is under the tarp in the foreground of the photo in the lower right. It was transported to Hartebeesthoeck, South Africa, and located on the hill adjacent to the Mobile Tracking Station and above the 26-meter station (DSS 51). It acquired the signal at the horizon and maintained communication for about 3-1/2 minutes.

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