Four years after the radio telescope disaster at the Arecibo Observatory (Puerto Rico), details about the causes of this tragic event were revealed. According to a report published recently, on October 25, by American researchers, the destruction of the telescope was the result of an unprecedented technological failure.
The primary cause of the disaster was the loosening of steel cables supporting the 900-ton receiving platform. This failure was caused by “fatigue” of the galvanized sockets that were responsible for holding the cables. The process of gradual loss of zinc adhesion turned out to be crucial to understanding the problem. Zinc, used to protect against corrosion, deformed over time and lost its protective properties (so-called “creep” occurred), which led to cables being torn out of the sockets. Ultimately, the platform fell onto the reflector plate located 120 meters below, virtually destroying the entire structure.
As highlighted in the reportthis type of failure has not occurred before in over a hundred years of using zinc sockets. However, the commission responsible for analyzing the causes of the disaster did not find sufficient data to clearly determine what accelerated the process of wear of the zinc sockets. One of the hypotheses is the influence of low-current electroplasticity – the constant flow of electric current through the sockets could increase their plasticity, while weakening their structure.
The commission’s experts analyzed a wide range of materials, including forensic examinations, engineering documents, inspection reports and photos and repair proposals. Valuable information was also obtained from the Arecibo Observatory employees themselves. The report recommends further research on the remaining elements of the telescope and more careful monitoring of the aging research infrastructure to prevent similar disasters in the future – also in the context of other radio telescopes that are currently in operation.
The Arecibo radio telescope was one of the most advanced scientific tools in the world. It enabled the study of asteroids threatening Earth, conducting experiments that were often awarded Nobel Prizes, and analyzing planets in terms of their potential ability to support life. The facility also attracted approximately 90,000 visitors annually and served as a training ground for young scientists.
The telescope, built in the 1960s with funding from the US Department of Defense, survived many difficult times: hurricanes, constant exposure to very high humidity, and even earthquakes. In August 2020, it began to deteriorate after one of the cables broke, which led to damage to both the receiving platform and the reflector dish. Further failures forced the American National Science Foundation to decide to withdraw the telescope from operation in November 2020. Less than a month later, on December 1, 2020, the telescope finally collapsed.
In 2022, we learned that there are no plans to rebuild the telescope. In its place, there will be a $5 million educational center that will promote science – all in tribute to the legendary Arecibo Observatory.
Source: antyweb.pl
