Burning straw bales are pictured as firefighters battle a wildfire in Cebreros area, near Avila, 80 kilometres west of Madrid at night on July 24, 2026. Massive wildfires in Europe yesterday forced Nasa to evacuate one of its three global deep space communications facilities in Spain, impacting the agency’s ability to communicate with space probes. — AFP pic Summary Massive wildfires in Europe have led to the evacuation of NASA's Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex (MDSCC) in Spain, which is crucial for communicating with distant spacecraft. Although the facility, part of the Deep Space Network, has been impacted, NASA has transitioned mission support to its other sites in Canberra and Goldstone. All personnel were evacuated safely, and potential damages will be assessed later. The agency emphasized the priority of safety for its staff and expressed concern for the surrounding communities affected by the fires. First Published: Saturday, 25 Jul 2026 9:00 PM MYT WASHINGTON, July 25 — Massive wildfires in Europe yesterday forced Nasa to evacuate one of its three global deep space communications facilities in Spain, impacting the agency’s ability to communicate with space probes.The Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex (MDSCC) is located in Robledo, about 37 miles (65 kilometres) west of central Madrid, a Nasa spokesperson told AFP in a statement.“The wildfire has passed through the MDSCC. Any potential damage will be assessed when it is safe to do so,” the US space agency said, adding all personnel were “safely evacuated.”MDSCC is part of the Deep Space Network, one of three sites that allow Nasa to communicate with its spacecraft exploring distant parts of the galaxy.The other two sites are in Canberra, Australia and Goldstone, California, where “the agency has seamlessly transitioned support for mission operations.”“The safety and well being of our personnel is our highest priority and our thoughts are with the families and neighbours who are also experiencing the impact of the wildfires in the surrounding communities,” the statement said. — AFP