About the FCDAS

The FCDAS is one of two major Satellite Command and Data Acquisition Stations operated by NESDIS. The other station is located at Wallops Island, Virginia.

NESDIS satellite operations are headquartered at the Suitland Satellite Operations Control Center in Suitland, Maryland.

Polar-orbiting environmental satellites constantly circle the earth in a polar orbit. The FCDAS is situated farther north than any other satellite communications station in North America. Consequently, the FCDAS provides an irreplaceable communications link with the polar-orbiting satellites during their launch and as their orbits converge over the North Pole.

The FCDAS encompasses over 8,500 acres of land in the Gilmore Valley. Much of the FCDAS is open space that has been reserved or purchased by the government in order to protect the functions of its facilities. The FCDAS Visitor's Kiosk is located at the front gate of this secured government facility.

Hills forming the Gilmore Valley help block background radio noise from outside sources such as radio and television signals. This valley, therefore, has very low background levels of radio noise, which greatly assists in radio telecommunications with satellites. <top>