- #1
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- TL;DR Summary
- Arecibo broken
Anyone have more information...here is Scott Manley report...not good!
Snapped Cable Damages Arecibo Observatory Radio Telescope
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- Thread starter hutchphd
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In summary: The collapse was caused by long-term damage to one of the support cables, which eventually failed and triggered a chain reaction that brought down the entire telescope. The repair work will be led by the National Science Foundation and is expected to take several months.
- #2
Drakkith
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Hope they get it back and running asap!
- #3
Tom.G
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Dated Aug. 18, 2020:
https://spacenews.com/arecibo-damage-to-take-months-to-repair/
Dated August 21, 2020. More history along with a little information:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/21/science/space-telescope-puerto-rico-arecibo.html
Short synopsis:
A few hundred feet of support cable came down and damaged several Aluminium panels in the main dish and some damage to the catwalk to the movable suspended part. No apparent equipment damage found so far.
The cable did not break, it pulled out of its end attachment. Strange, considering the attachment method. See the video in the initial post above for details on that.
The panels that make up the dish are no big deal to replace, they are just Aluminium panels with holes punched in them. The cable is more of a problem, it was custom made and it will take a few months to make a replacement. They also have to figure out how safe the catwalk to the instruments is; then repair it.
The repair work will be led by the National Science Foundation (NSF) which is still contributing to the operational funding.
Cheers,
Tom
https://spacenews.com/arecibo-damage-to-take-months-to-repair/
Dated August 21, 2020. More history along with a little information:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/21/science/space-telescope-puerto-rico-arecibo.html
Short synopsis:
A few hundred feet of support cable came down and damaged several Aluminium panels in the main dish and some damage to the catwalk to the movable suspended part. No apparent equipment damage found so far.
The cable did not break, it pulled out of its end attachment. Strange, considering the attachment method. See the video in the initial post above for details on that.
The panels that make up the dish are no big deal to replace, they are just Aluminium panels with holes punched in them. The cable is more of a problem, it was custom made and it will take a few months to make a replacement. They also have to figure out how safe the catwalk to the instruments is; then repair it.
The repair work will be led by the National Science Foundation (NSF) which is still contributing to the operational funding.
Cheers,
Tom
- #4
jedishrfu
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More on the final collapse yesterday with some drone footage:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03421-y
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03421-y
- #5
nsaspook
Science Advisor
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jedishrfu said:
That type of long term cable damage would have been just about impossible to repair after one failed far below its rated capacity. The remaining cables with 1/3 of a 900 ton compression load balanced with anchor cables was a hair trigger that unfortunately got pulled.
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Drakkith
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jedishrfu said:
That drone footage is unbelievable. You can actually see the paint on the cables come flying off as they get ripped apart!
1. What caused the cable to snap at the Arecibo Observatory Radio Telescope?
The cable that snapped at the Arecibo Observatory Radio Telescope was likely due to natural wear and tear over time. The telescope has been in operation since 1963 and the cables supporting the platform have been under constant tension for over 50 years. This, combined with the harsh weather conditions in Puerto Rico, could have contributed to the cable's failure.
2. How will the snapped cable affect the functionality of the Arecibo Observatory Radio Telescope?
The snapped cable has significantly impacted the functionality of the Arecibo Observatory Radio Telescope. It has caused damage to the telescope's reflector dish and suspended platform, rendering it unable to be used for scientific observations. The telescope will need to undergo extensive repairs before it can resume its operations.
3. Has this type of incident happened before at the Arecibo Observatory Radio Telescope?
Yes, this is not the first time that a cable has snapped at the Arecibo Observatory Radio Telescope. In 2017, Hurricane Maria caused significant damage to the telescope, including snapping several cables. However, this is the most severe damage that the telescope has experienced in its over 50 years of operation.
4. How long will it take to repair the damage caused by the snapped cable?
The timeline for repairing the damage caused by the snapped cable is currently unknown. The National Science Foundation, which manages the Arecibo Observatory, has announced that it will be decommissioning the telescope due to safety concerns. However, the final decision on the future of the telescope and its repairs has not yet been made.
5. What impact will the snapped cable have on scientific research at the Arecibo Observatory Radio Telescope?
The snapped cable has had a significant impact on scientific research at the Arecibo Observatory Radio Telescope. The telescope was a crucial tool for studying the universe, including detecting pulsars, tracking asteroids, and searching for extraterrestrial life. The loss of this telescope will greatly hinder our ability to make these types of scientific discoveries.
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