Premium Only Content

How NASA Uses Gravity and Radio Waves to Study Planets and Moons
The Deep Space Network, NASA’s international collection of giant radio antennas used to communicate with spacecraft at the Moon and beyond, helps scientists and engineers use gravity and radio science experiments to learn more about our planetary neighborhood.
After reaching a spacecraft reaches its destination, it uses radio antennas to communicate with the Deep Space Network, which in turn transmits radio signals back to the spacecraft. Every spacecraft travels in a predetermined path emitting radio signals as it orbits around its target. Scientists and engineers can infer the spacecraft's location and how fast it's going by measuring changes in the spacecraft's radio signal frequency. This is made possible by the Doppler effect, the same phenomenon that causes a siren to sound different as it travels towards and away from you.
The Doppler phenomenon is observed here when the spacecraft and the Deep Space Network antenna move in relation to each other. Differences between the frequency of radio signals sent by the spacecraft as it orbits and signals received on Earth give us details about the gravitational field of a planetary body. For example, if the gravity is slightly stronger, the spacecraft will accelerate slightly more. If gravity is slightly weaker, the spacecraft will accelerate slightly less. By developing a model of the planetary body's gravitational field, which can be mapped as a gravitational shape, scientists and researchers can deduce information about its internal structure.
The Deep Space Network was developed by and is managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California. The antennas of the Deep Space Network are the indispensable link to robotic explorers venturing beyond Earth. They provide the crucial connection for commanding our spacecraft and receiving never-before-seen images and scientific information on Earth, propelling our understanding of the universe, our solar system and ultimately, our place within it.
JPL manages the Deep Space Network for the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program, based at NASA Headquarters within the Space Operations Mission Directorate.
Learn more about the DSN at go.nasa.gov/about-dsn
-
2:43:40
FreshandFit
6 hours agoAnton Daniels COOKS Delusional Women With Reality!
128K79 -
2:17:37
Inverted World Live
6 hours agoSecond-Generation Exorcist | Ep. 89
21.8K12 -
1:47:40
Badlands Media
13 hours agoBaseless Conspiracies Ep. 145: Epstein, Iran, and the Game of Distraction
114K45 -
2:50:50
TimcastIRL
7 hours agoTrump Deploys National Guard To DC, Federalizes Police, Liberals Protests Take Over| Timcast IRL
210K77 -
2:27:36
Barry Cunningham
10 hours agoBREAKING NEWS: PRESIDENT TRUMP ABSOLUTELY NUKED WASHINGTON D.C. AND THE MEDIA!
82.3K52 -
4:30:53
Drew Hernandez
12 hours agoTRUMP'S DC TAKEOVER & ISRAEL KILLS AL JAZEERA TEAM AHEAD OF GAZA INVASION
27.6K15 -
1:19:05
Glenn Greenwald
8 hours agoTrump's DC Takeover: Is it Legal? Israel Kills More Journalists, Including Anas al-Sharif; Glenn Reacts to Pete Buttigieg and JD Vance on Israel | SYSTEM UPDATE #501
156K119 -
44:40
Katie Miller Pod
8 hours ago $6.86 earnedEpisode 1 - Vice President JD Vance | The Katie Miller Podcast
63.6K15 -
13:09:34
LFA TV
1 day agoLFA TV ALL DAY STREAM - MONDAY 8/11/25
244K22 -
1:44:36
RiftTV
9 hours agoBREAKING: Trump FEDERALIZES D.C. To RESTORE Law & Order | The Rift | Ryan Matta, Olivia Krolczyk + Braeden Sorbo
73.9K17