Puerto Rico Allots $8 Million Funding for Possible Reconstruction of the Arecibo Telescope

In November 2020, it was reported that Puerto Rico's Arecibo telescope was slated for decommissioning as the National Science Foundation, the agency overseeing Arecibo, approximated that it could not be fixed without risking human life.

This decision would put an end to an instrument responsible for over five decades of astronomical discoveries.

Now, a glimmer of hope has surfaced for the giant telescope as Puerto Rico has now devoted $8 million to the device. This, according to INTERESTING ENGINEERING, was recently reported by Engadget.

The said report indicated that the amount mentioned is probably not enough for the telescope to be fixed, although it could be enough to postpone the decommission.

Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vasquez has already signed an executive order for the approval of the eight-million-dollar amount stating that the reconstruction of Arecibo is essential "as a matter of 'public policy."

This early commitment, INTERESTING ENGINEERING specified, may even attract possible sponsors in the United States to "donate the rest of the amount" needed to fully restore the telescope.

Decommissioning, a Difficult Decision to Make

The tough decision to retire the telescope occurred after two major cables broke, leading to substantial impairment to the observatory.

The University of Central Florida's engineers found that even the other cables showed indications of degradation, fueling apprehensions that the platform could collapse and crash through the dish.

At that time, according to the NSF, "the telescope structure is in danger of a catastrophic failure." More so, the agency continued, its cables may not be capable anymore of carrying loads they were intended to support.

Moreover, numerous analyses specified that any attempts at repair could bring workers in possibly life-threatening danger. The question coming next then is if money can do something to change the situation.

Can Funding Help With the Repair?

The question is if adequate funding would be safe to repair the Arecibo telescope, or it will still be very dangerous now arises. In a statement, the NSF announced, "the observatory is not closing."

A study comprising archived data from the 1,000-foot telescope will carry on, and the NSF is still searching for ways to restore operations with the other infrastructure of the observatory at the soonest possible time, which includes the 39-foot telescope and LIDAR facilities. Such an announcement gave new hope for Arecibo.

This famous gigantic Puerto Rico-based telescope, which has provided priceless service to many scientists for 57 years, and established itself infamous culture, was earlier reported to be dismantled after it incurred irreparable damage in the previous months.

Completed in the early 1960s, this gigantic telescope instantly established itself as a powerful instrument for astronomers and even atmospheric scientists worldwide.

Then, in early December 2020, following generations of astronomical investigations, Arecibo crashed. According to the NSF, "the 900-ton instrument base of the telescope" fell about 450 feet below on a reflector dish.

It happened just weeks after the authorities said that the Arecibo telescope would be retired amid safety concerns after interference to its support structure.

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