On June 26,European Space Agency (ESA) declared that it has decided to set up its third deep space ground station in Mendoza Province in the west of Argentina. After the establishment, this station will join with the other two ground stations to provide the technical support for the scientific exploration of the orbital satellite.
At the same day, the communique released by the ESA says that, in order to choose an appropriate site to establish the ground station, this agency has spent several months in evaluating the 35 sites in both countries of Chile and Argentina. Finally, a desert area, 30 kilometers south of Malargüe City in Mendoza Province, Argentina. This site is free from the radio wave with the telecommunication frequency guarantee at the ground station by the Argentina's National Communication Commission. It is anticipated that the related legal document concerning the establishment of the ground station will be entered and signed between the ESA and Argentina government at the end of Augest and be submitted to ESA council to allow for approval in October, 2007. The antenna is anticipated to launch into usage in the mid-2009.
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