Cornwall’s Desmonde Associates contributes to global space exploration

Cornish Engineers complete £8.4 million project to future-proof deep-space missions at Cornwall’s famous Goonhilly Space Exploration Earth Station.

Structural Engineers from Desmonde Associates, based in St Agnes, provided expertise to help upgrade the huge satellite ground station, including structural assessments, 3D Modelling of the site, structural designs and reporting.

“We are proud to have played a part in this Cornish investment, contributing significant technical expertise for the upgrade of Goonhilly’s Merlin 32m diameter GHY-6 antenna and its supporting structures.

“This was an important project to upgrade such vital space exploration infrastructure and future-proofing the site for many more years to come,” said Adam Desmonde BSc MSc, Managing Director of Desmonde Associates.

Astronaut Tim Peak at Goonhilly Earth Station, Cornwall. Picture: Goonhilly Earth Station.

Completing these upgrades mean Goonhilly ground station can track and control robotic and human missions to the Moon and Mars. It will also enable the European Space Agency (ESA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA and private space exploration companies to conduct deep-space tracking and satellite communication services on a commercial basis.

This year (2022) marks the 60th anniversary of Cornwall's Goonhilly Earth Station and there will be a live music event taking place, featuring artists including, Pink Floyd and Daft Punk are among the highlights at the planned one-day celebration this summer.

This project was to upgrade Goonhilly’s largest antenna to deep-space tracking and satellite communication services on a commercial basis. This £8.4 million investment at Goonhilly in Cornwall, South West England, was supported by the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and by UK Space Agency and the ESA.

The announcement and unveiling of the upgraded Deep Space Antenna was carried out by UK Astronaut, Tim Peake.

“As Goonhilly’s antenna transitions from qualification to operation, we look forward to more of our missions using the system. This asset offers the European Space Agency an effective method of increasing our data download capacity and is a step closer to European industry offering commercial deep space services,” said Pier Bargellini, Head of Ground Facilities Operations Division at ESA.

Adam Desmond BSc MSc, Managing Director, Desmonde Associates.

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