The information from the SOHO spacecraft is controlled in NASA's
Goddard Space Flight Center near Washington DC, where the satellite's scientific data is gathered via the three ground stations of NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) system. The overall responsibility for the spacecraft and its operations belongs to ESA. SOHO has a robotic control system, which allows it to look after itself up to 48 hours. An onboard computer controls the orientation of the spacecraft relative to the Sun, using a fine-pointing sun sensor and star-tracking system, and three reaction wheels which keep it sunpointing.
The 70-metre antenna of DSN station in Goldstone, California.
