Callisto was pleased to welcome members of the maintenance teams from ESA Deep Space Antennas to our offices in Labastide for training on cryogenic low noise amplifiers systems. Two consecutive courses of one week duration each were organised in the first half of December. In this period four engineers from Cebreros and four engineers from New Norcia deep space stations were trained.

The courses covered essential aspects of cryogenic and vacuum theory as well as practical experience of first level maintenance procedures. Cryogenic low noise amplifiers are critical components for Deep Space communications as they provide the sensitivity necessary to receive very weak signals from spacecraft orbiting distant planets.However, careful maintenance of the refrigeration and vacuum components are necessary for long term reliability. The objective of these courses was to improve the knowledge and skills of the ground station maintenance team in cryogenics systems, which is an area of technology not usually encountered in the world of satellite communications engineering. The practical course has been supplemented by a training video, which will allow the student to refresh their memories of the critical points when back at their home base.