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 on 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
-
1:58:10
Nerdrotic
3 hours ago $1.94 earnedReconstructing the Superhero | FNT Square Up - Nerdrotic Nooner 457
41.3K3 -
52:50
The Charlie Kirk Show
1 hour agoCA's Top Priority + Seven Days | Sen. Marshall, George, Thibeau | 1.13.2025
30K9 -
LIVE
The Kevin Trudeau Show
2 hours agoBREAKING NEWS | Insider Proof The Deep State Controls Everything | Ep. 82
587 watching -
1:04:08
Russell Brand
4 hours agoDeep State Exposed: Veterans in the Crosshairs – SF518
91.5K158 -
49:57
Game On!
3 hours ago $1.10 earnedNFL Wildcard Weekend FINALE! Plus, can Notre Dame actually beat Ohio State?
19.4K2 -
1:00:13
The Dan Bongino Show
7 hours agoThe FBI Warns Of A Grave Threat, But Will Anyone Believe Them? (Ep. 2399) - 01/13/2025
745K1.52K -
1:23:10
The Rubin Report
4 hours agoMark Zuckerberg Makes Joe Rogan Go Quiet with Never-Before-Told Details of Biden’s Lies
73.3K75 -
1:01:54
Grant Stinchfield
3 hours ago $1.65 earnedBe Wary of Viral CA Wildfire Conspiracies... But the Anomalies Can't be Ignored!
17.7K6 -
The Dana Show with Dana Loesch
2 hours agoLATEST ON CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES | The Dana Show LIVE On Rumble!
19.3K6 -
1:31:12
The Shannon Joy Show
6 hours ago🔥🔥The LA Fires & OMNI War. The Enemies Are Within & The Rules Have Changed.🔥🔥
18.8K12