What caused the Arecibo to fail?

Arecibo Observatory’s massive radio dish suffered from a 100-foot gash after a cable broke on August 10. Individual wires in the cables began snapping over the weekend, reported the Associated Press. When they finally gave way, the falling platform tore off portions of the top of each supporting tower.

Why was the Arecibo Observatory destroyed?

After suffering damage in recent months, the Arecibo Observatory radio telescope in Puerto Rico collapsed on December 1. Cables that suspended a platform of scientific instruments above the dish snapped, causing the platform to fall into the dish.

Will Arecibo be demolished?

The Arecibo telescope’s long and productive life has come to an end. The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced today it will decommission the iconic radio telescope in Puerto Rico following two cable breaks in recent months that have brought the structure to near collapse.

What really happened at Arecibo?

All three towers suffered failures, major portions of the dish were destroyed, and the platform and instruments it supported were a complete loss. Several buildings, including the visitor center, were damaged by falling debris.

Will Arecibo telescope be replaced?

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.

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 the Arecibo Observatory be rebuilt?

How was Arecibo destroyed?

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.

Can Arecibo be replaced?

Arecibo was one of the few observatories in the world with a planetary radar capability, funded by NASA as part of its planetary defense program to refine the orbits of asteroids and determine their size and shape. “Right now, we basically can’t replace it,” he said of Arecibo’s planetary radar.