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wiredInUSA - April 2014
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The operations of theWilliamE Gordon radio
telescope in Arecibo, Puerto Rico were
restricted in January following damage
sustained by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake,
centered 37 miles northwest of Arecibo.
A structural survey by Arecibo Observatory
staff revealed serious damage to a main
suspension cable section, with apparent
breach of several cable strands within
the cable that supports the 900-ton focal
platform of the telescope. There are 18
main suspension cables in all.
“In an abundance of caution, telescope
motion had been very limited since
the earthquake,” said Robert Kerr, the
observatory’s director and a principal
scientist at SRI International, which leads
a multi-organization team to manage,
operate, and maintain the Arecibo
Observatory.
“Nevertheless, the telescope continued
its science mission, including participation
in a ten-day global ionospheric study in
late January and continuing a productive
search for pulsars in the sky above Arecibo.”
Arecibo Observatory has now completed
the immediate repair of the telescope. The
repair design was created by consulting
engineers Ammann and Whitney, and
the repair itself carried out by Arecibo
Observatory staff.
The Arecibo Observatory is operated by SRI
International, teaming with The Universidad
Metropolitana and the Universities Space
Research association, in a cooperative
agreement with the National Science
Foundation.
High level
cable repair
following
earthquake