Hours ago at 7:50AM EST, the Arecebo Space Telescope in PR collapsed with the loss of the Sensor Array Platform and major damage to the dish itself. Talks of trying to save and repair the already damaged from one of the support cables snapped and caused some damage to the dish itself few months ago.
Many Puerto Rican and other Latino scientists say that it was the Arecebo Space Telescope was the reason why they decided to become scientists in the first place. There are talks of perhaps rebuilding but right not it is a major clean up operation.
Though there are larger space telescope throughout the world, Arecebo was the only space telescope that was a also a radar dish as well as a telescope, measuring distances between the moon, planets and asteroids that orbit with the earth. That needs to be brought back for a first level of planetary defense though asteroid detection.
They (who ever "they" are) are hinting that an earthquake in DR (Dominican Republic) and their aftershocks caused greater stress on the weakened structure of the telescope and lead to the final collapse this morning.
That or preserve what's left as a monument and use another larger sinkhole. But it is sad, I read of it's recent issues and this the first of it's total loss. It was as you said more then just a radio telescope, it was an icon and national symbol, not too mention a film star!
That or preserve what's left as a monument and use another larger sinkhole. But it is sad, I read of
