Arecibo radio telescope collapse

[Box Brownie]

I recall hearing a few days back that it had concerns over its structural condition and safety.

However, it has now had a catastrophic failure of the support towers and the suspended lab housing has fallen into the telescope dish causing much damage.

An iconic bit of astronomy engineering.

Puerto Rico: Iconic Arecibo Observatory telescope collapses - BBC News

The telescope was used in decades of astronomical discoveries and as a backdrop for Hollywood films.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Ricardodaforce]

It always makes me think of the film Contact.

 

[Box Brownie]

I think recall a good while ago that it was a very expensive & risky gamble to build it. I do wonder if the astronomy community will see fit to repair and rebuild it to cost worthy effect???

 

[AgentOrange76]

It always makes me think of the film Contact.

Goldeneye

 

[Mr Bump]

it was in very poor repair
it had a recent collapse of some of its structure
it was doomed

 

[Mr Badger]

They didn't see that coming, did they!

 

[simon ess]

They didn't see that coming, did they!

If only they were astrologers rather than astronomers.

 

[Server Hamster]

It was sabotaged by space aliens who were sick of having to maintain radio silence.

 

[simon ess]

The aliens thought it was a 5g mind control emitter.

 

[Server Hamster]

The aliens thought it was a 5g mind control emitter.

Which would interfere with theirs.

 

[the black fox]

So they planted obelisks all around the planet and triangulated it with a covid type vaccine which caused it to start playing “ going loco down in arriecobo “

PS can anyone tell I’m bored

 

[Box Brownie]

So they planted obelisks all around the planet and triangulated it with a covid type vaccine which caused it to start playing “ going loco down in arriecobo “

PS can anyone tell I’m bored

Really...........

 

[Tori_T]

Video of the collapse:

 

[arclight]

It was to be dismantled because it was knackered. I expect that would have been a slow and expensive process.

Very handy how it just happened to collapse.

 

[Mozthecat]

I initially thought the collapse just after they had confirmed it was too unsafe to repair, but just before the scientific community got a chance to send in gazillions of experts to give alternative ($$$$) opinions was convenient....

 

[Nod]

VERY handy that that drone was in the right place to see the cable parting. But it was past its sell by date - or, if not past that, past its best before.

 

[Mr Bump]

yeah nice and cheep just to cut through the wires and just let it fall
it was done for