Goonhilly's historic and modern parabolic dish antenna network in Cornwall, UK, providing deep-space, GEO, MEO, and LEO satellite communications and tracking services from one of the world's largest and most iconic satellite earth stations.
Goonhilly Earth Station Antenna Network (GES)
Goonhilly's historic and modern parabolic dish antenna network in Cornwall, UK, providing deep-space, GEO, MEO, and LEO satellite communications and tracking services from one of the world's largest and most iconic satellite earth stations.
Description
The Goonhilly Earth Station antenna network comprises a fleet of large parabolic dish antennas at the historic Goonhilly Downs site in Cornwall, England, which opened in 1962 as the world's first large satellite ground station, famously relaying the first transatlantic television signals via the Telstar satellite. Goonhilly's antennas, some originally built for Intelsat and BT operations and now upgraded and repurposed, range in aperture from roughly 15 to 32 meters. The site's flagship deep-space-capable antenna, GHY-6 (a 32-metre dish), was reactivated and upgraded to become the first commercial deep-space communications station outside of government space agency networks, supporting missions to the Moon and beyond in partnership with organizations including ESA. Goonhilly's network supports GEO, MEO, and LEO satellite communications, telemetry, tracking and command, and deep-space communications for lunar and interplanetary missions, serving commercial satellite operators, government agencies, and space exploration programs worldwide from what is now marketed as the largest satellite earth station in the world by number of active antennas.
Specifications
| Location | Goonhilly Downs, Cornwall, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Site opened | 1962 |
| Antenna aperture range | ~15 to 32 meters |
| Flagship deep-space antenna | GHY-6, 32-metre dish |
| Historic milestone | First relay of transatlantic television via Telstar satellite (1962) |
| Deep-space milestone | First commercial deep-space communications station outside government space agency networks |
| Orbit coverage | GEO, MEO, LEO, and deep-space/lunar communications |
| Key partners | European Space Agency (ESA) and commercial lunar mission operators |