Possible photo-outing to NASA Goldstone

[Chris Dodkin]

As a warm-up to my (quite possibly insane) idea of a trip out to photograph the VLA in New Mexico, I contact NASA about getting a photo tour of a more local facility - the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex.

Got a nice reply from them:

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Cunkelman, Leslie E." <lecunkelman@gdscc.nasa.gov>
Date: September 6, 2011 11:23:44 AM PDT
To: "Chris Dodkin"
Subject: RE: Goldstone Tours?

Hello Chris,

I offer tours of Goldstone Monday – Friday at 9am or 1pm, please let me know when you are interested because they do need to be set up in advance and how many will be in your party.
I have included driving directions and a form for foreign national visitor form.. just in case.

Please know that any photos taken at Goldstone are meant for your personal use only.. not to be sold or commercialized in any way. If you would like to publish anything that would need to be approved through JPL before your trip.

Looking forward to your tour,
Leslie

Leslie Cunkelman | Goldstone Outreach
ITT |Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex
93 Goldstone Road, Fort Irwin, CA 92310-5097
V: 760.255.8688 lecunkelman@gdscc.nasa.gov

This location is 3 hours outside LA - in the Mojave Desert

[MAPS]http://maps.google.com/maps?q=93+Goldstone+Road+Fort+Irwin+CA+92310-5097+&t=h&z=14&vpsrc=0[/MAPS]

Any of the SoCal members (or anyone else for that matter) up for a day trip?

Goldstone's main purpose is to track and communicate with space missions. It includes the Pioneer Deep Space Station, which is a U.S. National Historic Landmark. The current observatory is part of NASA's Deep Space Network. The Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex is one of just three in the world; the others being the Madrid Deep Space Communication Complex and the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex.

The tour is escorted, requires photo ID, and is FREE!

 

[Pete Askew]

Sounds good and pretty interesting - and free too! Maybe you could aim for the set. US, Spain and Australia!!