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If it couldn’t be fixed, it would be a major blow to science.
The second largest single-camera radio telescope in the world, the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, recorded its second major incident within months, leading to its new damage.
In August, one of the support cables was released, holding a metal platform with dipoles in the focus, in the air directly above the reflector. In the 305-meter-wide spherical reflector of the telescope caused a “scar” of about 30 meters.
Currently, another cable has failed, which this time did not come loose, but broke, the news section of the scientific journal Science pointed out.
Maybe a few days was enough
Arecibo Radio Telescope is struggling with major problems. So far it has not been able to cope with the damage caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017 and other complications have already arrived.
August’s damage was supposed to have been repaired last Tuesday after lengthy planning, but it didn’t happen in the end. The aforementioned current fault occurred last Friday, a few days before repairs began.
The metal platform located in the center of the reflector is held in the air by metal cables several centimeters thick stretched by three support towers. The cable that broke last week came from the same tower as the cable that broke off in the summer.
It is assumed that the cause of the current failure is an increase in the load on the remaining cables coming from said tower.
“We were very careful in our assessment of the situation and prioritized safety in planning the repairs, which were due to begin on Tuesday. And now this. Until we stabilize the facility, there will be a lot of uncertainty. We pay close attention to it. We are evaluating the situation with our experts and we hope to be able to say more soon, “said the head of the observatory, Francisco Cordova on Sunday.
Photo gallery
In the center of the 305-meter-wide mirror is a large platform, which is held in the air by a series of steel cables.
Source: Arecibo Observatory, National Science Foundation, University of Central Florida
He assured that the telescope would try to get it back into operation, as it was “just too important an instrument” for scientific advancement. Work is currently underway to temporarily lighten the load on the remaining steel cables of the aforementioned support tower.
Repairs will cost millions
The complex, located in the mountains of Puerto Rico, is part of the US National Science Foundation (NSF) and is managed by the University of Central Florida.
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Last month alone, the university applied for an emergency grant of $ 10.5 million (€ 8.91 million), intended to cover damages in August. The amount of the additional ones has not yet been quantified.
The Arecibo Observatory has been the largest single camera radio telescope in the world for over five decades. Until in 2016 it was overthrown by the Chinese FAST with parabolic reflector with a diameter of 500 meters.
Arecibo has achieved many scientific results. Research has focused primarily on pulsars. It is also known to the public through the SETI @ home project, which focuses on the search for intelligent life outside our solar system.
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