The reconstruction of the Arecibo Observatory could cost $ 400 million

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San Juan – The reconstruction of the radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico would cost $ 400 million, estimated on Tuesday Gerardo Morell, director of the Puerto Rico Nasa Space Grant, an organization that helps develop local science and technology personnel in areas that of interest to NASA.

Morell’s estimate comes a day after Governor Wanda Vázquez allocated $ 8 million to cover the removal and disposal of debris and the design of a new radio telescope.

“Exactly the 8 million are for design. It’s a more accurate cost estimate I can give you. But as a good physicist, the approximate calculations are that the number fluctuates in the $ 400 million mark, ”Morell confirmed in an interview with the Radio Isla 1320 radio station.

According to Morell, talks are underway between the director of the Observatory and the incoming government of Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi with the intention of rebuilding the radio telescope, which collapsed on Dec. 1 after 57 years of operation.

“I know there are talks between the Observatory director and the incoming administration, which have not yet been finalized with details, but the intention is already to meet in the near future,” said Morell.

By means of an executive order, the governor also stated that the reconstruction of the observatory was declared public.

“The government of Puerto Rico is confident that the radio telescope’s collapse represents a great opportunity to redesign it, taking into account the lessons learned and the recommendations of the scientific community, so that it will be relevant for decades,” Vázquez said Monday .

In turn, he recalled that this “world-renowned facility functioned for 57 years as a research facility with the capacity for scientific discoveries and contributions to national security, scientific research, education, as well as tourist attractions”.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) owns the Arecibo Observatory, located in the north of the island.

The governor of Puerto Rico insisted on her wish that this place should remain of tourist interest – annually it was visited by more than 100,000 tourists and scientists.

The radio telescope collapsed on December 1.

  • The Arecibo Observatory is one of Puerto Rico's architectural wonders of great value to the local and international scientific community.

    The Arecibo Observatory is one of Puerto Rico’s architectural wonders of great value to the local and international scientific community. (GFR average)

  • This research center has been the epicenter of important scientific discoveries since it opened its doors on November 1, 1963 to the present day.

    This research center has been the epicenter of important scientific discoveries since it opened its doors on November 1, 1963 to date. (GFR average)

  • Until 2016, it was the world's largest fixed-aperture radio telescope with a 1,000-foot spherical reflector.

    Until 2016, it was the world’s largest radio telescope with a fixed aperture and a 1000-foot spherical reflector. (GFR average)

  • The Arecibo Observatory was used for astronomy using radio and radar frequencies, as well as studying the Earth's atmosphere.

    The Arecibo Observatory was used for astronomy using radio and radar frequencies, and for studying the Earth’s atmosphere. (GFR average)

  • Construction of the Arecibo Observatory began in the mid-1960s under the supervision of Professor William E. Gordon of Cornell University.

    Construction of the Arecibo Observatory began in the mid-1960s under the supervision of Professor William E. Gordon of Cornell University. (Jorge Ramirez Portela)

  • Currently, the radio telescope is operated by the Central University of Florida (UCF), the Cupey campus of Ana G. Méndez University.

    Currently, the radio telescope is operated by the Central University of Florida (UCF), the Cupey campus of Ana G. Méndez University. (GFR average)

  • The Arecibo Observatory is known, among other things, for hosting studies of the SETI program, which analyzes radio signals in search of intelligent life in space.

    The Arecibo Observatory is known for hosting studies of the SETI program, which analyzes radio signals in search of intelligent life in space. (GFR average)

  • In 1974, the radio telescope was used to transmit the “Arecibo message,” a binary transmission targeting the globular group Messier 13, some 25,000 light-years from Earth. (Jorge Ramirez Portela)

  • He was also a lead in the 1997 movie “Contact”, starring Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey. (GFR average)

  • Meanwhile, in 1995 the radio telescope was the scene of James Bond’s final showdown in the movie “GoldenEye,” and in 2010, a scene from the 2010 feature film “The Losers” was filmed in the Gregorian Dome. (GFR average)

  • In 1981, the Observatory produced the first radar maps of the surface of Venus, and in 1982 it was used to discover the first millisecond pulsar, a second class pulsar, the PSR 1937 + 21.

    In 1981, the Observatory produced the first radar maps of the surface of Venus, and in 1982 it was used to discover the first millisecond pulsar, a second class pulsar, the PSR 1937 + 21. (GFR average)

  • In 1992, scientists used the radio telescope to reveal the existence of ice at Mercury's north and south poles for the first time, and that same year, researchers discovered the first exoplanet.

    In 1992, scientists used the radio telescope to first reveal the existence of ice at Mercury’s north and south poles, and that same year, researchers discovered the first exoplanet. (GFR average)

  • Subsequently, the existence of an entire planetary system around the PSR 1257 + 12 pulsar was revealed.

    Subsequently, the existence of an entire planetary system around the PSR 1257 + 12 pulsar was revealed. (GFR average)

  • In 2017, the Arecibo Observatory found two pulsars with the ability to “disappear” for a long time. (GFR average)

  • In August 2020, a support cable caused damage to the Arecibo Observatory plate, so all observation work and scientific research was halted.

    In August 2020, a support cable caused damage to the Arecibo Observatory plate, so all observation work and scientific research was halted. (GFR average)

  • The cable caused a nearly 100-foot-long crack in part of the Arecibo Observatory dish.

    The cable caused a nearly 100-foot-long crack in part of the Arecibo Observatory dish.

  • The cable that broke was one of 18 that supported the nearly 900 ton weight of the receiver and transmitter module above the reflector.

    The cable that broke was one of 18 that supported the nearly 900 ton weight of the receiver and transmitter module above the reflector. (GFR average)

  • Then in November 2020, another support cable broke and caused damage to the structure plate. Both incidents threaten to collapse the structure

    Then in November 2020, another support cable broke and caused damage to the structure plate. Both incidents are causing the structure to collapse (GFR average)

  • After several studies by engineers, the National Science Foundation decided to shut down completely in order to do a partial demolition of the structure.

    After several studies by engineers, the National Science Foundation decided to shut down completely in order to do a partial demolition of the structure. (GFR average)

  • Despite the demolition, they would seek to explore opportunities to expand the learning centre's educational capabilities.

    Despite the demolition, they would seek to explore opportunities to expand the learning centre’s educational capabilities. (GFR average)

The radio telescope platform collapsed as a result of months of structural failures that prompted the NSF to recently announce its decommissioning.

The structure weighed 900 tons and had a reflector plate a thousand feet wide (about 305 meters).

The first of the failures occurred in August when one of the cables broke, a fact that worsened on November 6 when a second burst, leaving it extremely weakened.

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