NASA deep-space antenna complex in Madrid 'in a critical situation' as wildfire forces evacuation of Robledo de Chavela
A forest fire advancing through southwestern Madrid has placed the Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex in a 'critical situation', forcing the evacuation of its roughly 90 workers while emergency crews battle to protect six large parabolic antennas vital for interplanetary missions.
Fire reaches the NASA complex
A large wildfire burning through the Sierra Oeste region of Madrid reached the Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex (MDSCC) in Robledo de Chavela on Friday, 24 July 2026. The government delegate in Madrid, Francisco Martín, described the facility as being in a "critical situation" from the command post set up in Cenicientos. Emergency crews are working to prevent the flames from entering the complex, which sits on the road connecting Colmenar del Arroyo and Robledo de Chavela. The fire continues to advance northward, pushed by strong winds, and the blaze was in its most intense phase, with the fire front beyond the extinction capacity of the deployed resources, according to the Community of Madrid.
Right now, everything possible is being done to protect that installation of the Robledo de Chavela antennas, a very important installation that finds itself in a critical situation.
The approximately 90 workers at the complex were evacuated and no personnel remain inside the facility. As of Friday evening, it was not yet possible to confirm whether the flames had penetrated the facilities or caused any damage. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) told Xataka it is coordinating with NASA headquarters and expects to have more information soon.
One of three gateways to deep space
The MDSCC belongs to the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) and operates in collaboration with NASA. It is one of three nodes in the Deep Space Network, alongside stations in Goldstone, California, and Canberra, Australia. The three complexes are strategically positioned around the globe so that Earth's rotation does not interrupt communications with spacecraft for long periods. When a mission drops below the horizon at one site, it comes into view of another.
The Madrid complex houses six large parabolic antennas, including one measuring 70 metres in diameter and several of 34 metres. In April 2024, all six antennas were coordinated for the first time to simultaneously receive the faint signal from Voyager 1, then located more than 24 billion kilometres from Earth. The station has also tracked numerous Mars exploration missions and other projects across the Solar System over its decades of operation. It participated in the communications of the Apollo programme, including Apollo 11, which first took humans to the lunar surface.
Mass evacuations across southwestern Madrid
The threat to the NASA station coincides with widespread evacuations. Robledo de Chavela, a town of around 5,000 inhabitants, was ordered to evacuate. Fresnedillas de la Oliva, with approximately 2,000 residents, was also evacuated, while residents of Navalagamella were told to remain confined. After the meeting of the Integrated Operational Coordination Centre (Cecopi), Francisco Martín reported that more than 40,000 people remain evacuated or confined across the Community of Madrid. The figure could rise in the coming hours if the fire maintains its advance.
- Wildfire advances through southwestern Madrid, reaching Robledo de Chavela area.
- Roughly 90 workers at the NASA complex evacuated; fire front described as beyond extinction capacity.
- Government delegate Francisco Martín declares the complex in a 'critical situation' from the command post in Cenicientos.
- More than 40,000 people under evacuation or confinement across the Community of Madrid.
- JPL coordinates with NASA headquarters; no confirmation yet of damage inside the complex.
What comes next
Firefighting teams remain deployed around the MDSCC, attempting to halt the fire's northward push driven by high winds. NASA's JPL is awaiting updates from the site before assessing any potential impact on ongoing deep-space communications. The Community of Madrid has not yet declared the fire under control. No damage inside the complex was confirmed as of Friday night.
