arecibo observatory damage

Therefore, the NSF will decommission Arecibo Observatory… This led to the NSF making the decision to decommission the telescope after 57 years. New York, The observatory has withstood hurricanes, earthquakes and tropical storms over the years. ... but with some significant damage. Federal funding for the facility has been cut severely since then, and now a cable holding up the telescope has snapped, damaging the telescope and forcing Arecibo to close. "The first cable failure was certainly a surprise and of strong concern … With the second cable failure, obviously things became significantly more serious.". Please refresh the page and try again. ", Evaluating the situation is also difficult, since reaching the suspended platform and the towers that anchor its supporting cables is dangerous. "We have seen some individual wire breaks on that particular cable, but we hadn't seen any change for weeks," Francisco Cordova, the director of the observatory, told Space.com. An auxiliary cable came loose from a socket on one of the towers in August, creating a 100-foot gash in the dish. Photos of the damage make it seem particularly nasty, but Arecibo’s main reflector dish is comprised of 40,000 panels — making the overall destruction very small. The process to decommission a telescope is a complicated one. Famed Arecibo Observatory suffers more damage as 900-ton platform falls The telescope, star of a James Bond movie, was set to be decommissioned despite a petition to save it. "Time right now is critical," Mendez told Space.com. Once the plans are in place, the telescope will be disassembled through a controlled demolition. As feared, the 900-ton instrument platform collapsed yesterday at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto . Our image of the day. (Image credit: University of Central Florida), (Image credit: Courtesy of the NAIC - Arecibo Observatory, a facility of the NSF), 'Greenland' offers grim take on how humanity will respond to a comet impact, Watch live @ 3 pm ET: NASA's 'Great Conjunction' guide to the Saturn-Jupiter 'Christmas Star', SpaceX aborts US spy satellite launch due to rocket booster pressure issue, Boeing reveals mission patch for second Starliner orbital flight test, Pictures from space! The NSF plan must meet legal, safety, cultural and environmental requirements. This photo shows damage caused to Arecibo Observatory in August. When it broke, the cable crashed into the reflector dish below, causing additional damage. The first cable slipped out of its socket on Aug. 10 at 2:45 a.m. local time. While the telescope will be decommissioned, the NSF plans to preserve as much of the observatory as it can. The renowned Arecibo Observatory radio telescope in Puerto Rico, closed because of damage, completely collapsed Tuesday morning. "Until these assessments came in, our question was not if the observatory should be repaired but how. "It's quite clearly an extremely worrisome situation," Don Campbell, who began his career at Arecibo in 1965 and eventually served as the observatory's director in the 1980s, told Space.com. You will receive a verification email shortly. The telescope has supported and contributed to important discoveries in radio astronomy as well as planetary and solar system research, including gravitational waves. Visit our corporate site. The damage inflicted on Arecibo by Hurricane Maria came at a particularly inopportune time for the observatory, which was beset with major funding problems at the time. The Arecibo telescope played a key role in discovering the first planet outside our solar system and has helped astronomers identify potentially hazardous asteroids en route to Earth. And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com. And that is a line we cannot cross," said Ralph Gaume, director of NSF's Division of Astronomical Sciences, in a statement. Engineers were assessing and working on a plan to repair the damage when another main cable on the tower broke on November 6. Drones will provide photo surveys that help with the planning. "Certainly now with this failure, we understand that that capacity's just not there and that there has been other degradation.". While no direct cause for the breaks has been identified, corrosion is suspected as the main issue. The operators of the observatory are hoping to move quickly but thoroughly through their plans to avoid a collapse. It's also Earth's prime sentinel for identifying whether specific asteroids are on a path to hit the planet — and it appeared in the blockbuster movies like James Bond's "GoldenEye" and "Contact," no less. The situation became much more dire on Nov. 6 at 7:39 p.m., when a second cable — this time, one of the primary cables — snapped, compromising the structural integrity of the 900-ton (800,000 kilograms) platform that looms over the dish, holding the facility's antennas and scientific instruments. The reflective dish is 1,000 feet in diameter, 167 feet deep, and covers an area of about 20 acres. ", The same is true of the damage the dish has accumulated during the incidents, he said. Related: The Arecibo Observatory: Puerto Rico's giant radio telescope in photos, "That particular situation was evaluated by the engineering team and determined not to be an issue because the capacity of that cable was so much higher than the load that it was taking, that it really shouldn't have been a problem," Cordova said. "NSF recognizes the cultural and economic significance of Arecibo Observatory to Puerto Rico, and how the telescope serves as an inspiration for Puerto Ricans considering education and employment in STEM," according to a, Mysterious radio waves detected from space, Arecibo Observatory featured in James Bond film "Goldeneye" shut down, Giant asteroid flying by Earth next week looks like it's wearing a face mask. I am so worried about it. The Arecibo Observatory, a vast and famous telescope that has helped map the cosmos, will be demolished. Arecibo Observatory, the famed radio telescope in Puerto Rico, has collapsed after operating for more than 50 years, according to multiple outlets. "Arecibo is still very much a telescope that is at the forefront of many areas and its loss would be tremendous," Campbell said. (CNN)After decades of aiding astronomical discoveries, one of the most powerful telescopes on Earth will cease its observation of the universe after sustaining irreparable damage. The observatory's helipad and well water were vital resources for those living near the facility. "I'm totally scared of what's happening at the observatory now. An aerial view of the Arecibo Observatory after the collapse on December 1, 2020. This year, throughout January, a series of earthquakes, the strongest a 6.4 temblor, rocked Puerto Rico and the facility closed for inspection. "Hopefully in the next couple days, we'll have that decision," Cordova said. The Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico has been damaged by a broken cable. "We believe the structure will collapse in the near future if left untouched," according to a letter by engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti. What's sending mysterious repeating fast radio bursts in space? The NSF is also considering expanding the learning center, although the ongoing pandemic will impact that for the time being. Space is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. When the month ended and the earthquakes with it, Puerto Ricans celebrated the new year afresh, hoping that the worst of the year was over, Abel Mendez, a planetary astrobiologist at the University of Puerto Rico who regularly brings students to observe at Arecibo, told Space.com — only to face the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in March. © Of interest is the LIDAR geospace research facility, the visitor center and the offsite Culebra facility for analyzing precipitation and cloud cover data. On its way down, it damaged observation facilities suspended above the dish, as well as gouging a 100-foot-long (30 meters) "gash" in the fragile dish, according to a statement from the University of Central Florida, which operates the facility. While this is a profound change, we will be looking for ways to assist the scientific community and maintain that strong relationship with the people of Puerto Rico.". Further evaluations of the broken cable will be conducted, only if they can be carried out safely, to see if they can glean more evidence that could shape their plans. No one was expecting the snap on Nov. 6 as engineers at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico weighed their options for dealing with damage to the facility from a cable failure over the summer. Friday 04 December 2020 16:16 The world-famous Arecibo Observatory has collapsed after sustaining significant damage. Updated 2:20 PM ET, Thu November 19, 2020. This will allow the observatory to serve as a hub for research and education in the future. Read more. After this undertaking is complete, the NSF plans to focus on restoring operations at the observatory. Staff at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico are safe, but the storm destroyed a key instrument, and conditions in surrounding towns are still unknown. The latest review revealed that damage to the telescope could not be stabilized without risking staff and the construction team. "Controlled demolition, designed with a specific collapse sequence determined and implemented with the use of explosives, will reduce the uncertainty and danger associated with collapse. "I am so worried about it," a scientist familiar with the facility said. Cables connected to three towers hold the telescope in place. In 2017, Hurricane Maria battered Puerto Rico but mostly spared Arecibo. Even if engineers could safely fix all the damage and add cables to support the telescope, it would likely have stability issues in the future. "I'm very much keeping all my fingers crossed that they will figure out how to stabilize the structure and get it repaired. The world's largest digital camera could unlock mysteries of the universe, First US observatory named in honor of a female astronomer, Vera Rubin. A main cable that supports Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico broke Friday evening, compounding damage caused by a smaller cable failure in August, according to the site manager. Facing increasing budget pressure, the NSF gradually phased out its funding, transferring operations first to SRI International and then to the University of Central Florida, although the NSF still owns the site. "When you can't access the attachment points for these cables, then that becomes a big challenge.". Get breaking space news and the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more! More concerning, scientists say, is the possibility of losing a unique facility with plenty of work left to do. An engineering survey found the damage to the observatory cannot be stabilized without risk to construction workers and staff. Amanda Kooser "When you have access to the towers, when you have access to the platform, there's a million ways you can remove a failed cable, hoist a new cable, things like that," Cordova said. But any "stress tests" of the cables are being avoided because they could collapse the telescope. "Over its lifetime, Arecibo Observatory has helped transform our understanding of the ionosphere, showing us how density, composition and other factors interact to shape this critical region where Earth's atmosphere meets space," said Michael Wiltberger, head of NSF's Geospace Section, in a statement. Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her on Twitter @meghanbartels. "You don't see a whole lot of difference when you look at the platform — certainly you do see a couple of extra cables that are hanging down that shouldn't be, they should really be pointing up, and they're pointing down," Cordova said. Any part of the observatory at risk of a collapse has been evacuated and will stay closed. Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! But the past few years have been difficult on the observatory. Scientists have used it to confirm that pulsars are superdense neutron stars, to discover the first planets beyond our solar system and to broadcast a message out into the cosmos in hopes of reaching intelligent alien life. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, This photo shows damage caused to Arecibo Observatory in August. An auxiliary cable came loose from a socket on one of the towers in August, creating a 100-foot gash in the dish. ", "It's a precarious situation," he added, "and we just kind of have to wait and see.". But just as engineers were ready to begin repairs on that secondary cable, which slipped out of its socket in August, they faced a much more serious challenge: one of the main cables unexpectedly snapped, putting the entire facility at risk. But for the observatory, things would only get worse. Outside astronomers had to wait over a week to learn that the observatory was still standing. This aerial view shows the damage at the Arecibo Observatory after one of the main cables holding the receiver broke in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, on December 1, 2020. A view of Arecibo Observatory's suspended platform and science equipment, as seen before damage incurred in 2020. In the meantime, scientists connected to Arecibo Observatory are hoping for the best. Fortunately, archival data from the telescope will be migrated to servers outside of the danger zone, continuing the tradition of research and discovery by the telescope for years to come. Damage at the Arecibo Observatory in August, 2020. Credit: NSF/NAIC. Arecibo was designed by a scientist at Cornell University, which operated the facility until 2011, with the National Science Foundation (NSF) as the observatory's main funder. "But this is such a massive structure that even that gets lost in the background size of the telescope platform itself. Gut-Wrenching Photos Show Damage at Arecibo Observatory Following Collapse. It is operated and managed by a team at the University of Central Florida, the Universidad Ana G. Méndez and Yang Enterprises Inc. The Arecibo Observatory, also known as the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC), is an observatory in Arecibo, Puerto Rico owned by the US National Science Foundation (NSF).. Even if the repairs could be done safely, the engineering team determined the structure would present long-term stability issues. "For nearly six decades, the Arecibo Observatory has served as a beacon for breakthrough science and what a partnership with a community can look like. "NSF prioritizes the safety of workers, Arecibo Observatory's staff and visitors, which makes this decision necessary, although unfortunate," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan in a statement. The Arecibo Observatory houses the world's second-largest radio telescope. In addition, several assessments stated that any attempt to make repairs could put the lives of workers in danger. Arecibo Observatory telescope, a Puerto Rico landmark, collapses after damage After sustaining severe damage from a broken cable, the famed Arecibo Observatory telescope in Puerto Rico has collapsed. Researchers are also gathering at regular virtual meetings, which Mendez described as "stress relief" sessions, to talk about the situation and to share memories of the facility. For more than 50 years, the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico was home to the world's biggest single-aperture telescope. Update on Arecibo Observatory Facility After Telescope Damage Operations at the UCF-managed Arecibo Observatory (pictured here in the spring of 2019) are stopped until repairs can be made from an incident in August that caused a 100-foot-long gash on the telescope’s reflector dish. This image shows an overview of the damage to Arecibo Observatory's 305-meter telescope in November. "Certainly the dish is fairly damaged," Cordova said, "[but] whenever you look at how big our primary reflector is and you look at what the damage is, it also doesn't look like something that's insurmountable.". At risk is not just the observatory's half-century history of research spanning astronomy, atmospheric studies, near-Earth asteroids and the search for life beyond Earth. Science operations have been suspended at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico after the radio telescope was damaged on Monday August 10. Broken Cable Damages Arecibo Observatory The main collecting dish is among the world’s largest single-dish radio telescopes. On the ground, Cordova said, the damage doesn't look as bad as it really is. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer. Arecibo Observatory’s main collecting dish, which is among the world’s largest single-dish radio telescopes, was badly damaged when a cable snapped on Monday, Aug. 10. Multiple engineering companies reviewed the damage. A drone view of damage to a cable at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico captured after a second cable failed on Nov. 6, 2020. NY 10036. I'm still somewhat hopeful. The Arecibo Observatory, a huge and previously damaged radio telescope in Puerto Rico that played a key role in astronomical discoveries for more than half a century, completely collapsed on Tuesday. Arecibo Observatory, home of the second largest radio telescope in the world, was badly damaged in 2017 when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. The observatory has put together a suite of options for stabilizing the situation and is waiting for a decision from the National Science Foundation, which owns the facility, about how to proceed. The 305-meter telescope at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico will be decommissioned, according to an announcement made by the. No one was expecting the snap on Nov. 6 as engineers at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico weighed their options for dealing with damage to the facility from a cable failure over the summer. After the break on November 6, engineers inspected the rest of the cables and discovered new breaks as well as slippage from some of the sockets on the towers. Nestled into a natural basin in the middle of the Puerto Rican jungle, the Arecibo Observatory began science work in 1963 and is the world's second-largest radio dish. More recently, Arecibo detected organic molecules in a distant galaxy and discovered the first repeating fast radio burst. ", The firm also recommended that this be carried out "as soon as pragmatically possible.". A resident of Puerto Rico captured aerial footage of the Arecibo Observatory after the telescope’s 900-ton receiver platform fell onto the reflector dish more than 400 feet below on December 1.Carlos G Saavedra Padin recorded this footage while on a helicopter and posted it to Twitter.Padin told Storyful he took the helicopter ride to see the condition of the observatory … The spherical radio/radar telescope includes a radio dish 1,000 feet across and a 900-ton instrument platform suspended 450 feet above it. The observatory, which was featured in the James Bond film "GoldenEye," was completed in 1963 and has been helmed by the NSF since 1970. Observations made by the telescope helped discover the first binary pulsar in 1974 (which led to the 1993 Nobel Prize in physics), supported NASA's Viking mission, produced the first radar maps of Venus' surface and spotted the first exoplanet in 1992. 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