NASA - Achievement Award for Work on DSS-43

The DMS was awarded a Group Achievement Award from NASA for its contribution tothe upgrade to the DSS-43 Hydrostatic Bearing.

The DMS played a pivotal roll in designing, implementing the measurement procedure to align the 30m diameter hydrostatic bearing of DSS-43. 

DS-43 is the largest steerable parabolic antenna in the Southern Hemisphere. The massive structure, weighing more than 3000 tonnes, rotates on a film of oil approximately 0.17mm thick. The DMS overcame difficult measuring conditions (including obstruction and confined space) to align the new bearing to a tolerance +/-0.05mm over the full 30m bearing diameter.