Climate change has brought a new frontier crisis: wildfires now threaten the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) critical deep space observatories. On Friday, Spain declared a state of emergency as multiple blazes burned near Madrid, with over 60,000 people under evacuation orders.

The affected area includes Robledo de Chavela, home to the Deep Space Communications Complex run by NASA. Dramatic images show radio telescopes engulfed in smoke and fire. A NASA spokesperson confirmed a successful evacuation of all personnel but warned that any damage to sensitive equipment remains unclear until it’s safe to assess.

For now, support for mission operations has been seamlessly transferred to the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex in California, ensuring uninterrupted communication with spacecraft like Voyager 1 and the James Webb Space Telescope. These facilities form NASA’s largest scientific telecommunications network, essential for deep space exploration and observation.

Spain is not alone; France also faces a wildfire crisis, with evacuations ordered across both countries as temperatures soar to record highs. The continent has seen repeated heat domes this summer, fuelled by climate change. Cooler weather may offer temporary relief but forecasted high temperatures could yet exacerbate the situation.