Sad news for science: The Arecibo radiotelescope finally collapsed
(Image: Twitter/@deborahtiempo)
The Arecibo radio telescope platform finally collapsed over the antenna, which led to the complete destruction of the telescope.
The observatory has operated for more than half a century and was closed at the end of November this year.
The Arecibo radiotelescope was considered for almost 50, largest filled aperture radio telescope. Right now, that title goes to the FAST in China.
The telescope consisted of a spherical reflector with a diameter of 305 meters, located in a karst funnel; and a 900-ton mobile platform, suspended above the antenna using multicore metal cables connected to 3 concrete towers.
The Arecibo studied both the Earth's ionosphere and the radiation of the surfaces of small bodies and planets of the solar system, and also observed distant nebulae and galaxies.
In August of this year, one of the auxiliary cables slipped out of the nest, punching a hole in the antenna, and in November one of the main cables supporting the platforms collapsed.
An examination of the telescope's condition showed that its design was unstable, and repairs were dangerous for employees. It was finally decided to close the observatory.
It was expected that specialists were going to analyzed again the state of the antenna to draw up a plan for the controlled demolition of the telescope.
However, on the morning of December 1, the remaining cables could not stand and the platform collapsed. Despite the sad news, no observatory staff were injured.
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