Faster, Better, Cheaper

Astronomy in the DSN

Faster...

Astronomers work on a typical cycle of three years (the typical duration of grant funding, the time spent on a thesis, the maximum tenure of a post-doc). New capabilities have to be implemented on a comparable timescale. The DSN's upgrade cycle is on the order of a decade.

Better...

Astronomers needs for improved capabilities are driven by the desire to break new scientific ground. Astronomers start with the DSN's proven capabilities and try to go one step farther, or two...

Cheaper...

With our budget, it has to be.