Orroral Valley Tracking Station

The main requirement of the station, as distinct from the long-range communication tasks of Tidbinbilla and Honeysuckle Creek, was to be able to quickly switch from supporting one satellite to another.

The signal received from satellites in Earth orbit are relatively strong but view periods are short, a few minutes being typical.

Data from the satellites were recorded on magnetic tape and air-freighted to the United States for study.

In April 1981, Orroral tracking station supported the Space Shuttle Columbia.

In 2019, a paraglider landed at the Orroral Valley Tracking Station and was promptly attacked by a wild kangaroo.