The telescope's massive science platform, which weighed in at 900 tons, was suspended above the vast radio dish by three dozen supporting cables. … The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), which owns the site, determined that the platform was too unstable to safely repair and decided to decommission the instrument.The telescope's massive science platform, which weighed in at 900 tons, was suspended above the vast radio dish by three dozen supporting cables. … The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), which owns the site, determined that the platform was too unstable to safely repair and decided to decommission the instrument.Jan 25, 2021
Why did the telescope in Puerto Rico collapse?
What caused the Arecibo Observatory collapse?
Arecibo, which was featured in the 1995 James Bond film Goldeneye, collapsed December 1, 2020 when a cable holding up a 900-ton receiver platform snapped around 8am local time that morning and sent the massive structure hurling onto the reflector dish more than 400 feet below.
What happened to the Puerto Rico telescope?
The NSF determined in November 2020 that it was safer to decommission the telescope rather than to try to repair it, but the telescope collapsed before a controlled demolition could be carried out.
What happened to the large telescope in Puerto Rico?
"We may be a tiny little island in the middle of the Caribbean, but we can do big science." But on Dec. 1, the radio telescope's 900-ton hanging platform crashed down into the massive dish, destroying it. Scientists around the world mourned, as did everyday Puerto Ricans all across the island.
What happened to the observatory in Arecibo Puerto Rico?
On 1 December, fate took control as more cables snapped and the platform, as heavy as 2000 grand pianos, came crashing down into the dish. The loss dismayed scientists worldwide. Although 57 years old, Arecibo was still a scientific trailblazer.
Will the Arecibo telescope be rebuilt?
Officials have emphasized that Arecibo will continue to exist, but the agency has not committed to rebuilding the telescope as it stood, or to supporting a new project at similar scale. … The grand design isn't the only option the NSF will contemplate when it decides what to do with the telescope's legacy.
Did the Arecibo telescope collapse?
On Dec. 1, 2020, the platform fell, smashing through the delicate dish. The collapse left Arecibo's dedicated science community reeling — and wondering what would come next for the site.
Will the Arecibo Observatory be replaced?
Scientists try to keep work going at the famed observatory after its telescope collapsed in December. Some scientists believe that a replacement for the telescope — which could cost as much as $500 million — should be considered. …
Will Arecibo Observatory be rebuilt?
Officials have emphasized that Arecibo will continue to exist, but the agency has not committed to rebuilding the telescope as it stood, or to supporting a new project at similar scale. … The grand design isn't the only option the NSF will contemplate when it decides what to do with the telescope's legacy.