Space

Arecibo telescope gets $8 million to be reconstructed

The funding seems not enough, but it could be a start for possible donation campaign.

Published

6 years ago

January 1, 2021

We reported on November 21, 2020 that Arecibo telescope would be dismantled permanently due to the broken two cables supporting the system, of which engineers say it is unfeasible to mend it safely.

The US National Science Foundation (NSF), which owns the Arecibo Observatory, announced the 57-year-old radio telescope would be decommissioned, adding that attempts to repair could put workers and staff at risk.

But now astronomers can become hopeful for the collapsed Arecibo telescope as $8 million was approved to help reconstruct the telescope, per Engadget.

Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez has signed an executive order for monetary aid to one of astronomy’s most prominent icons, saying its reestablishing is important in terms of “public policy.”

Associated Press

The fund is not enough to mend the telescope; however, it can encourage some in the US government to allot the extra funding required to resuscitate the Observatory. The Arecibo had difficult times in 2020, but 2021 can be a brighter year for the facility.

About Arecibo telescope

Built in 1963, the Arecibo telescope was the world’s largest radio telescope from which astronomers sent signals to search for life beyond our solar system, and make contact.

Also, the first confirmed exoplanet orbiting the pulsar PSR B1257+12 was discovered in 1990 via the Arecibo. Near-Earth asteroids and fast radio bursts are among its other works.

Despite hitches, NSF astronomy division director Ralph Gaume said in November that limited scientific work would continue on the site.

🙁Sad day for astronomical society.
National Science Foundation released footage of collapse of Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Video shows moment when support cables snapped and fall onto observatory’s wide dish. 📡#Arecibo #Telescope #AreciboObservatory pic.twitter.com/UqkClsgp6C
— Orbit Inside (@orbitinside) December 3, 2020

“The observatory is not closing. Research involving archived data from the 305-meter telescope will continue and NSF is looking for ways to restore operations with the observatory’s other infrastructure as soon as possible, including the 12-meter telescope and LIDAR facilities,” NSF said in a statement to Engadget.

“NSF will continue the work of clearing and securing the site of the 305-meter telescope,” it added.

Additional information: Number of satellites in orbit by major countries and rest of the world as of March 31, 2020, per Statista.

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