Exploring the Solar System and beyond

The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex is a part of NASA's Deep Space Network - one of only three stations in the world with the capability to provide the vital two-way radio link with dozens of spacecraft exploring the Solar System and beyond. It supports the missions of many nations peacefully exploring the Sun, planets, moons, asteroids and comets and looking into the universe beyond.

CSIRO Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex

We are proud to present two leaders from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) as they discuss where the exploration of the Solar System is headed and what can we expect in the next 50 years.
Join JPL Deputy Director, Mr Larry James, and the Manager of JPL's Technology Program Integration Office, Dr Leslie Deutsch for a fascinating evening and discovering what the future of space exploration has in store and where humanity is headed next.
Our thanks to Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre, for being our venue host.
<H3>TWO PRESENTATIONS -</H3>
<H2>Mr Larry James will present: Exploring our Solar System</H2>
Over the last 50 years, JPL spacecraft have visited every planet in our solar system and roved for more than 13 years on the surface of Mars.  In addition, space borne telescopes have detected planets around neighboring systems, studied the composition and dynamic of galaxies across the Universe, and monitored changes in our planet’s surface and atmosphere.
This presentation will discuss the challenges of robotic space and Earth exploration, highlights of Curiosity’s recent findings on Mars, and present some of the engineering and technological challenges for future missions of exploration and discovery.
<H2 CLASS="MsoNormal">Dr Leslie Deutsch will present: Deep Space Network: The Next 50 Years</H2>
In 2014, NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN) celebrated its 50th year of enabling exploration of the Moon, Solar System planets, and beyond. During those 50 years, the DSN has grown along with the associated spacecraft flight systems, providing some 13 orders of magnitude communications systems improvement. It has also contributed to many of the world’s most important scientific discoveries and provided substantial technological spinoffs that have become part of everyday life on Earth.
Studies of the next 25 years indicate that deep space missions will need an order of magnitude increased communications performance per decade – and this is likely to continue beyond that time. Another major change is the emergence of a standardised international community for tracking deep space missions. The future definitely involves increased international cooperation.
This presentation will explain the near term plans already underway for the DSN, and considers the plans and possibilities for deep space optical communications, plus opportunities for international participation in the next 50 years of deep space exploration.
<H3 CLASS="MsoNormal">The talks will be followed by a Question and Answer session with the audience.</H3>
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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
<IMG ALT="Mr Larry James, JPL Deputy Director" SRC="https://cdn.evbuc.com/eventlogos/91485143/james.jpg">
Larry D. James, JPL Deputy Director
Larry D. James was appointed Deputy Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in August 2013. At JPL he is the Laboratory's Chief Operating Officer responsible to the Director for the day-to-day management of JPL's resources and activities. This includes managing the Laboratory's solar system exploration, Mars, astronomy, physics, Earth science, interplanetary network programs, and all business operations. These activities employ 5000 scientists, engineers, technicians, and business support personnel, generating $1.5 billion in annual revenues.
Prior to his retirement from the Air Force and his appointment as JPL Deputy Director, Lt. Gen. James was the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance at the Pentagon. He was responsible to the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force for policy formulation, planning, evaluation, oversight, and leadership of Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. As the Air Force's Senior Intelligence Officer he was directly responsible to the Director of National Intelligence and the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and led more than 20,000 Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance officers, enlisted and civilians across the Air Force ISR Enterprise.
Lt. Gen. James received his Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering (1978) from the US Air Force Academy (Distinguished Graduate) and his Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics (1983) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA. He was also a Draper Fellow at the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory in Cambridge MA.
James' 35 year military career included assignments as a Space Shuttle Payload Specialist, GPS Program Manager, Titan IV Launch Director and Commander of the 50th Space Wing at Schriever AFB, CO. James has also served on the staffs of US Space Command, Air Force Space Command, and HQ Air Force. He was commander of the 14th Air Force at Vandenberg AFB, responsible for all military satellite, launch and C2 operations, and was Director, Signals Intelligence Systems Acquisition and Operations Directorate, National Reconnaissance Office, Washington, D.C. He was the Director, Space Forces for Operation Iraqi Freedom at the Combined Air Operations Center, Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia.
<IMG ALT="Dr Leslie Deutsch" SRC="https://cdn.evbuc.com/eventlogos/91485143/deutsch.jpg">
Dr Leslie Deutsch, Deputy Director (JPL) Interplanetary Directorate
Dr. Deutsch received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Caltech in 1980, the same year he came to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Dr. Deutsch developed techniques for communicating with the Voyager 2 spacecraft at Neptune and Uranus. He also developed microelectronics to enable more advanced communications systems to be placed on newer spacecraft.
He received the IEEE Judith Resnick Medal in 1991 “for contributions to the theory and practice of deep-space telecommunications and information processing. In 1995, Dr. Deutsch co-led the team that redesigned the Galileo mission to Jupiter after the spacecraft’s high-gain antenna failed to deploy. For this work, he received the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal in 1996. This work led eventually to a meeting between Dr.Deutsch and Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in 1997.
Dr. Deutsch served as manager of NASA’s Deep Space Systems Technology program, sometimes called the “X2000 Program.” This program is responsible for developing the next several generations of spacecraft for exploring the solar system and beyond. Currently, Dr. Deutsch manages JPL’s Technology Program Integration Office and is responsible for developing the Laboratories strategy for overall technology investment.
He holds 28 patents in the fields of communication and electronic music, and has written more than 40 technical papers in communications, microelectronics, space systems, and ground station design. Leslie spends his spare time working as a professional musician and composer. He has given organ recitals in Europe and Japan and has served as Caltech’s organist since 1973. He performs with several jazz bands and has traveled extensively in North America and Europe playing the piano, trumpet, and tuba.

Questacon - The National Science and Technology Centre

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