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UPDATE Friday 4 Dec.: The drone footage of the Arecibo Observatory collapse has been officially shared online by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Two videos from different angles show the collapse.
The cables seemingly detach from nowhere, the giant telescope swings and sways in slow motion before rapidly gaining speed and disappearing under the foliage in the first video. Splinters fly through the air and clouds of debris rise from below. It is a disconcerting image.
The second video is shot from the perspective of a drone, higher above the Observatory. This, more shocking, footage shows exactly when and how the cables burst from the main section, and you watch in helpless horror as the whole thing falls before your eyes.
Watch the incredible, yet heartbreaking moments shared via two videos below:
Here is the view from a drone atop one of the Arecibo towers that was monitoring the condition of the support cables: pic.twitter.com/VOcZEWQ6wK
– Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) December 3, 2020
Read on for the original article:
The suspended platform of the 1000 feet The telescope (305 meters) of the Arecibo Observatory, an icon of astronomy, collapsed on itself during the night in Puerto Rico, according to the National Science Foundation (NSF).
This catastrophic end was feared by scientists and engineers to be imminent after several cables supporting the platform broke in recent months. The inevitable has now happened and the 900-ton platform that hung over the radio antenna has fallen 450 feet (140 meters) below about 8:00 local time and caused extensive damage, as documented photos online.
Dennis Vazquez via Facebook: He took these photos of the collapse of the Arecibo Observatory. You can see the debris and remains of the platform and the Gregorian dome. pic.twitter.com/xneOGSVFYi
– Wilbert Andrés Ruperto (@ ruperto1023) December 1, 2020
The platform has lost its battle with gravity
Just a few weeks ago, officials announced that the telescope would be dismantled amid safety concerns. This was the final blow to the famous telescope that aided astronomical discoveries for 57 years and had its share of hurricanes, storms and earthquakes. Now, the platform, with its damaged and frayed cables trying to hold it up for months, has lost its battle with gravity.
Here is the view of the Arecibo Observatory. A sad day for science, for Puerto Rico and for the whole world. We won’t rest until we do #RebuildAreciboObservatory. Now we will fight faster and stronger. We cannot lose our Observatory forever. @SaveTheAO @NAICobservatory pic.twitter.com/AvCPO2bmbm
– Wilbert Andrés Ruperto (@ ruperto1023) December 1, 2020
Thankfully, no one was injured, according to Puerto Rico observatory staff. The NSF said in a statement that an investigation into the fall of the platform was underway. According to initial results, the upper sections of all three towers supporting the platform broke off and the structure fell after that, CNN relationships.
Yesterday was the last time I visited this beauty of the place. Unfortunately he was dying. Here pictures of yesterday and today. pic.twitter.com/jWuAwtUc1s
– Deborah Martorell (@DeborahTiempo) December 1, 2020
This started a chain reaction in which the telescope’s worn support cables also fell and caused severe damage to the nearby Arecibo learning center.
SEE ALSO: 23 ENGINEERING DISASTERS OF ALL TIMES
You can hear Ángel Vázquez, Telescope Operations Head at Arecibo, explain the collapse below:
Ángel Vázquez explains the collapse of the Arecibo Observatory @SaveTheAO. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/7VCZNCFsA4
– Wilbert Andrés Ruperto (@ ruperto1023) December 1, 2020
The first evaluations are underway
“Initial results indicate that the top section of all three … telescope support towers broke. When the platform of the 900-ton instrument fell, the telescope support cables also fell. indicate that the observatory’s learning center suffered significant damage from falling cables, ”NSF wrote in a statement.
NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan said, “We are saddened by this situation but grateful that no one was hurt. When engineers informed NSF that the facility was unstable and posed a danger to Arecibo teams and staff. , we took their warnings seriously and continued to emphasize the importance of safety for all involved. Our goal is now to assess the damage, find ways to restore operations in other parts of the observatory and work to continue to support the scientific community and the people of Puerto Rico “.
He also added, “Our focus now is to assess the damage, find ways to restore operations elsewhere in the observatory and work to continue supporting the scientific community and the people of Puerto Rico.”
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