Historical Photo Of The Month - October 2003

Tiefort Mountain
Photograph Number DB-1

In 1964, this small microwave calibration station was located at Tiefort Mountain, about 16 miles east of Goldstone Tracking Station, in the Mojave desert. When there was not a spacecraft available for calibration and testing of Goldstone's Venus antennas (and there weren't many spacecraft in flight at that time) a local signal could be transmitted down to Goldstone as a substitute.

There were two 4-foot-diameter white K-u band reflector (dish) antennas. A silver S-Band (horn) antenna is seen at the far right. A VHF antenna, seen between the dish antennas, was used for verbal communications with Goldstone. Because of high winds on the mountain, the antennas were anchored by oversized metal baskets full of large rocks.

The small white metal building housed the transmitting equipment, and could accommodate a few occupants in sleeping bags if they needed to stay on the mountain overnight. There was no electricity on Tiefort Mountain, so a diesel generator set was used for power. At 4600 feet, the facility was occasionally covered by snow during the winter. Fuel, supplies, and workers were flown in only by helicopter. In case of emergency, an escape trail was marked so they could hike down the mountain. By 1980, the facility was no longer in use.

For more information about Tiefort Mountain, the Deep Space Network, or the history of JPL, please contact the JPL Archives.

Past Photos of the Month
Thumbnail pages 1996-2002 | 2003+

Past Photos of the Month Subject Index