Author Topic: Arecibo radio telescope destroyed. (Read 2633 times)

andrewc · « **on:** 01 December, 2020, 04:27:58 pm »

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/the-arecibo-telescope-s-900-ton-platform-has-crashed-into-its-disk-below-and-destroyed-the-iconic-radio-observatory/ar-BB1bwPG4

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/01/arecibo-radio-telescope-collapses-puerto-rico

philip · « **Reply #1 on:** 01 December, 2020, 04:36:27 pm »

Several pictures: https://www.noticel.com/galeria/20201201/imagenes-aereas-exclusivas-del-colapso-del-observatorio-de-arecibo/

spesh · « **Reply #2 on:** 01 December, 2020, 04:43:08 pm »

"A spokesperson for MI6 has refused to confirm nor deny reports of an alleged fight between two black-clad men with British accents, moments before the telescope collapsed."

The above may contain traces of LIE and/or cultural reference.

ElyDave · « **Reply #3 on:** 01 December, 2020, 05:53:33 pm »

I read an article last week saying it was just too dangerous to try and repair it.

philip · « **Reply #4 on:** 01 December, 2020, 06:09:28 pm »

A cable broke earlier this year; there was a plan to repair and then a second cable broke more recently. That was when it was deemed too dagerous, and today the suspended receiver (many tons) fell. I suppose it is no longer dangerous, but the damage is now probably beyond repair.

Chris S · « **Reply #5 on:** 01 December, 2020, 06:13:27 pm »

I presume it could be repaired - it was built once, it could be built again; I guess perhaps it's no longer required?

quixoticgeek · « **Reply #6 on:** 01 December, 2020, 06:21:08 pm »

Quote from: Chris S on 01 December, 2020, 06:13:27 pm

I presume it could be repaired - it was built once, it could be built again; I guess perhaps it's no longer required?

It's whether it's cost effective to do so...

J

perpetual dan · « **Reply #7 on:** 01 December, 2020, 06:23:32 pm »

Or the aliens are using a different way to connect.

Chris S · « **Reply #8 on:** 01 December, 2020, 06:25:48 pm »

Quote from: quixoticgeek on 01 December, 2020, 06:21:08 pm

Quote from: Chris S on 01 December, 2020, 06:13:27 pm
I presume it could be repaired - it was built once, it could be built again; I guess perhaps it's no longer required?

It's whether it's cost effective to do so...

J

No money in SETI since Jodie Foster found the first lot then?

Feanor · « **Reply #9 on:** 01 December, 2020, 06:27:51 pm »

The reason it couldn't be repaired was that once 2 cables had snapped, the entire structure was in imminent danger of collapse.

There was no safe way to replace the busted cables.

ElyDave · « **Reply #10 on:** 01 December, 2020, 07:33:34 pm »

Quote from: Feanor on 01 December, 2020, 06:27:51 pm

The reason it couldn't be repaired was that once 2 cables had snapped, the entire structure was in imminent danger of collapse.

There was no safe way to replace the busted cables.

Yes, that's what I read, you could already see significant damage in the article

ian · « **Reply #11 on:** 01 December, 2020, 07:45:06 pm »

Yeah, and in about two weeks the aliens will arrive undetected.

And probably then leave, visiting Earth is a bit like getting off a coach in Swindon to stretch your legs, you don't want to meet the locals.

FifeingEejit · « **Reply #12 on:** 01 December, 2020, 08:13:27 pm »

Is this the standard USAnian problem of failing to fund maintenance of structures, like interstate bridges?

ian · « **Reply #13 on:** 01 December, 2020, 08:24:55 pm »

Quote from: FifeingEejit on 01 December, 2020, 08:13:27 pm

Is this the standard USAnian problem of failing to fund maintenance of structures, like interstate bridges?

To be fair, it's 60-ish years old and has been continually battered by hurricanes and earthquakes and is located in a tropical environment. It's probably survived a lot longer than anyone planned.

philip · « **Reply #14 on:** 01 December, 2020, 08:30:00 pm »

Quote from: quixoticgeek on 01 December, 2020, 06:21:08 pm

Quote from: Chris S on 01 December, 2020, 06:13:27 pm
I presume it could be repaired - it was built once, it could be built again; I guess perhaps it's no longer required?

It's whether it's cost effective to do so...

J

It's also in Puerto Rico, which isn't a state and doesn't have any US Senators or Representatives, so spending federal money there doesn't ~~buy~~lead to any votes.

orraloon · « **Reply #15 on:** 01 December, 2020, 08:38:44 pm »

Ooh, years ago I had a PS2 with a GoldenEye game. So that's the big dish. What I have learned today...

Jaded · « **Reply #16 on:** 01 December, 2020, 09:52:50 pm »

Elon Musk and that other bloke will be happy.

mrcharly-YHT · « **Reply #17 on:** 02 December, 2020, 07:33:38 am »

I'm a bit ignorant about radio telescope technology, but isn't Arecibo completely obsolete, given the construction of the Square Kilometer Array, and its precursor?

Jaded · « **Reply #18 on:** 02 December, 2020, 07:35:35 am »

And messed up by 100,000 mini satellites?

ian · « **Reply #19 on:** 02 December, 2020, 09:52:52 am »

Quote from: mrcharly-YHT on 02 December, 2020, 07:33:38 am

I'm a bit ignorant about radio telescope technology, but isn't Arecibo completely obsolete, given the construction of the Square Kilometer Array, and its precursor?

Not really, it was still making observations. The other parts of the Arecibo complex are, I believe, to continue. Given the damage and the dangers, it's age, and the alternative options, I can understand why they opted to let it go (and given its haste to self-destruct, they were right about those dangers).

JonBuoy · « **Reply #20 on:** 02 December, 2020, 11:16:42 am »

It is pretty disappointing that they didn't capture the failure on video. Preferably from multiple angles.

andrewc · « **Reply #21 on:** 03 December, 2020, 05:11:35 pm »

https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/arecibo/

Some video on the link above.

Kim · « **Reply #22 on:** 03 December, 2020, 05:40:44 pm »

Quote from: andrewc on 03 December, 2020, 05:11:35 pm

https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/arecibo/

Some video on the link above.

That's well-timed. Did it start to go and they sent a drone up just in time, or did they send the drone up then apply the Fine Adjustment Tool to the tower or something?

Peter · « **Reply #23 on:** 03 December, 2020, 05:45:15 pm »

Quote from: ian on 01 December, 2020, 07:45:06 pm

Yeah, and in about two weeks the aliens will arrive undetected.

And probably then leave, visiting Earth is a bit like getting off a coach in Swindon to stretch your legs, you don't want to meet the locals.

That's offensive - Swindonians are very appreciative of visitors and will even stretch their legs for them, without being asked.

andrewc · « **Reply #24 on:** 03 December, 2020, 06:13:12 pm »

Quote from: Kim on 03 December, 2020, 05:40:44 pm

Quote from: andrewc on 03 December, 2020, 05:11:35 pm
https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/arecibo/

Some video on the link above.

That's well-timed. Did it start to go and they sent a drone up just in time, or did they send the drone up then apply the Fine Adjustment Tool to the tower or something?

https://twitter.com/DJSnM/status/1334540065201012737?s=20

"There was a drone inspecting the Tower 4 Cables when the collapse started so we get a close up on the cables breaking, check the second video segment."

Ouch!