The Deep Space Exploration Society Selected by NASA for Prestigious Volunteer Tracking Program Haswell, Colorado — January 26, 2026
The Deep Space Exploration Society (DSES) — a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to radio astronomy, STEM education, and community science outreach — has been selected by NASA as one of only a few organizations in the United States to participate in a high-profile volunteer tracking initiative supporting the Artemis II mission. DSES is the sole nonprofit organization from Colorado chosen for this international volunteer effort alongside other private and public institutional partners.
Under this program, volunteers from DSES will use their 60-foot radio telescope at the Plishner Radio Telescope site in Kiowa County, Colorado, to passively receive and track radio signals from NASA’s Orion spacecraft as it travels around the Moon during the Artemis II mission. Data collected by DSES volunteers will be shared with NASA for analysis, helping to enhance understanding of tracking capabilities and contribute to future deep space exploration.
“This recognition by NASA is a major milestone for DSES and for community-based science,” said Paul Sobon, President of the Deep Space Exploration Society. “Our members have spent years operating radio astronomy equipment, and now we’re contributing to one of NASA’s most ambitious exploration missions ever.”
Founded to restore and operate the historic Plishner Radio Telescope, DSES has built a robust platform for scientific research and public education in radio astronomy.
About the Deep Space Exploration Society
The Deep Space Exploration Society (DSES) is a volunteer-driven nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to practical astronomy, radio science, and STEM education opportunities for students and the public. Located just outside Haswell, Colorado, DSES operates the Plishner Radio Telescope.
To see the document DSES submitted that resulted in our selection click the button below.