Scientific Cooperation Agreement.pdf

This document is a Scientific Cooperation Agreement between the United States and Spain for the NASA Tracking Station, specifically the Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex (MDSCC). The agreement, set to enter into force on the date of the last exchanged note confirming internal processes, will remain in effect for 15 years and can be automatically extended for two-year periods. Key provisions include Spain providing land and rights-of-way for the existing facilities near Robledo de Chavela and Navas del Rey townships, approximately 47 kilometers west of Madrid, and the United States being responsible for construction, installation, equipping, and operating the station at its own expense.

The agreement establishes operational parameters for the tracking station, including the use of a 70-meter antenna, a 34-meter beam wave guide antenna, and a Cassegrain antenna, along with associated technical infrastructure. It outlines provisions for personnel exchange, taxation exemptions, frequency use authorization, and the establishment of a High-Level Coordination Committee to monitor progress. The document also references a Training and Visitor Center (TVC) inaugurated in 2002 to support educational outreach in Spain, with Spain managing the center's activities and the United States providing substantive support under the NASA Deep Space Network contract.