The 34-metre Deep Space Station 36 antenna dish was finally hoisted onto the main antenna structure at Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, bringing the capital on par with international Deep Space Networks.

A fault with the 400-tonne crane delayed the instalment of the dish on Wednesday, with sensor feedback from the crane not operating correctly.

The placement of the antenna requires millimetre accuracy.

Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex spokesman Glen Nagle said the setback was "fairly minor".

"It's frustrating but that's engineering and science," he said.

Mr Nagle said Thursday's instalment had been "absolutely perfect".

"It's a proud moment for the Deep Space Network and for Australia," he said.

"It's nice too, by coincidence, this is happening in National Science Week. This is a great symbol of the science and innovation Australia is at the forefront of in so many different areas."

Workers will now turn their attention to fitting the electronics, a process which will take at least 12 months.

The new dish will be operational by October 2016.

It joins the most recently completed Deep Space Station 35 and brings Canberra on par with networks in California and Madrid, working to allow information discovered in outer space to safely make its way back to earth.

The largest dish in the southern hemisphere, Deep Space Station 43, was expected to receive a facelift on Thursday with an upgrade of its L-band radio receiver cone.

Canberra's largest antenna has been active since 1973 and has a diameter of 70 metres.

The existing 35-year-old plus cone will be removed by a crane and replaced with a state-of-the-art four-metre high L-band receiver cone weighing more than 200 kilograms.