World news – US – The legendary Arecibo Observatory telescope is demolished after cables break down, damaged dishes

The huge Arecibo Observatory Telescope in Puerto Rico that once shined in the James Bond movie GoldenEye.

It’s a sad day for the astronomer. Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico – home to an epic 305-meter (1,000-foot) telescope dish – says goodbye. The observatory suffered serious structural damage when a cable broke down in August, and it got worse.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced Thursday that it will begin plans to decommission the telescope, and end 57 years of service for the device.. .

« The decision comes after NSF evaluated multiple evaluations by independent engineering firms and found that the telescope structure is at risk of catastrophic failure and that its cables may no longer be able to carry the loads they were designed to support, » NSF said in the current situation.

The second cable failed in early November. This was a main cable that broke and fell into the reflective dish, damaging both the dish and other adjacent cables. The cables are designed to support a 900-ton platform suspended 450 feet above the plate.

The University of Central Florida said in a November statement: “Each of the remaining cables in the hull now supports more weight than before, increasing the likelihood of another cable failure, which is likely to lead to the collapse of the hull. entire ». . 13. UCF manages the National Science Foundation facility.

The Observatory was the backdrop to a dramatic fight scene in the 1995 James Bond movie GoldenEye with Pierce Brosnan. She also appeared in the 1997 film Contact Jodie Foster. But Arecibo’s true legacy lies in the many scientific discoveries that made it possible. Explore pulsars, expand our knowledge of Mercury, spot exoplanets, and find fast radio bursts.

Scientists took to Twitter to mourn the observatory. This is a huge scientific punch. Planetary scientist Tania Harrison said « the end of an era ».

This is a huge science hit. End of an era. 😢 I’m definitely going to be pouring one for Arecibo while watching Contact tomorrow night on the anniversary. https: // t. co / KWs1AOPzCl

Field geophysicist Mika McKinnon tweeted, “I was shocked that we lost Arecibo.. Even if you don’t pay much attention to terrestrial astronomy, you know this telescope from & pop culture movies. It is a special place.

I was shocked that we are losing Arecibo. Even if you don’t pay much attention to terrestrial astronomy, you know this telescope from & pop culture movies. It is a special place. https: // t. co / hNYFKI4lcg

The NSF decommissioning plan will focus on the telescope while attempting to preserve the surrounding observatory structures. « After all necessary preparations have been made, the telescope will undergo controlled disassembly, » the foundation said..

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Arecibo Observatory, Radio Telescope, Telescope, National Science Foundation, Observatory, Astronomy, Puerto Rico