Major Nasa site in Spain hit by wildfire, disrupting communications with space probes
A major NASA deep space communications facility in Madrid was evacuated due to nearby wildfires. While the site was impacted, NASA has transitioned operations to other global stations to maintain contact with space probes.
Why it matters
The Deep Space Network is critical for maintaining contact with interplanetary missions; disruptions here could jeopardize data collection from distant spacecraft.
WASHINGTON, July 25 — Massive wildfires in Europe yesterday forced Nasa to evacuate one of its three global deep space communications facilities in Spain, impacting the agency’s ability to communicate with space probes.
The Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex (MDSCC) is located in Robledo, about 37 miles (65 kilometres) west of central Madrid, a Nasa spokesperson told AFP in a statement.
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