NSF Shutting Down Arecibo Observatory Update: Now Collapsed

Zorba

Lifer
Oct 22, 1999
15,235
10,810
136
The Arecibo is going to be demolished after there have been a couple of cable failures in recent months.


I do think engineers can be ultra conservative when reviewing other people's structures. Of course the main engineering company is the same firm that completely screwed up the design of a parking garage.


I, obviously, haven't seen the analysis, but at least one firm and the Corp seem like they think it could be salvaged. I have feeling this truly the result of NSF not having the funds to fix it now and afraid it'll collapse if they wait.
 

eelw

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 1999
9,773
4,966
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Didn't realize it's been 6 decades. Yeah time to retire it.
 

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
33,952
8,002
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My first thought is "Of course it CAN be fixed".
But I also imagine it is beyond their budget to do so.
Given its age, it may yield a better result to build a new one.
 

Zorba

Lifer
Oct 22, 1999
15,235
10,810
136
My first thought is "Of course it CAN be fixed".
But I also imagine it is beyond their budget to do so.
Given its age, it may yield a better result to build a new one.
Yeah, I think it is truly a lack of budget to fix it. Apparently they've been having budget problems for years.

I seriously doubt a new one will be built any time soon.

I wish we cared as much about scientific research as buying F-35s.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
47,990
37,161
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Arecibo has been the target of NSF cuts for many years, IIRC. So much so that it was even part of the plot of Contact.

If a suitable location could be located in red state America we could probably build a new bigger one.
 
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K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
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That'd be awesome, but not likely any time soon.

If we could figure out a way to spread the spending out over more R states we could get some cool shit. The National Radio Telescope Laboratory of...say Casper, WY has a certain ring to it.
 

NTMBK

Lifer
Nov 14, 2011
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If we could figure out a way to spread the spending out over more R states we could get some cool shit. The National Radio Telescope Laboratory of...say Casper, WY has a certain ring to it.

Propose it to Foxconn, they can finally use that site in Wisconsin for something useful
 
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uallas5

Golden Member
Jun 3, 2005
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Posted this in the DC thread about Arecibo

Took my wife to see it when we were in Puerto Rico on vacation about 20 years ago. She humored me even though it was almost a 2 hour drive each way (it helped that the countryside around it is absolutely gorgeous) but even she was impressed when she saw it. I can still remember the sorta weird background noise when were walking around the observation area at edge of the dish. I think I might even have the t-shirt I bought at the gift shop shoved in a drawer somewhere.

 

trenchfoot

Lifer
Aug 5, 2000
14,898
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Not specifically on topic, just reminiscing how I once had four rigs dedicated to the SETI Project until my son decided he wanted in-house lan parties to entertain his friends during summer breaks, spring breaks, XMAS/ New Year's breaks, weekends, Jewish holidays, national holidays, you get the picture.
 
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nickqt

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2015
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Propose it to Foxconn, they can finally use that site in Wisconsin for something useful
Only if they get another hundred million dollar tax break from Wisconsin tax payers first my friend.
 

trenchfoot

Lifer
Aug 5, 2000
14,898
7,426
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I wonder if the latest tech out there at the moment renders Arecibos' basic design parameters obsolete. If not, I hope another takes its place with all of the latest tech built in.
 

Roger Wilco

Diamond Member
Mar 20, 2017
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And then count the years until there is a fatal failure that can't be repaired.

To be fair, Hubble is still operational 30 years later.

JWST was originally scheduled for 2007 with a budget of $500 million. It is now scheduled for a late 2021 launch with a budget of $10 billion. It's taking the Star Citizen development trajectory.
 
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Zorba

Lifer
Oct 22, 1999
15,235
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To be fair, Hubble is still operational 30 years later.

JWST was originally scheduled for 2007 with a budget of $500 million. It is now scheduled for a late 2021 launch with a budget of $10 billion. It's taking the Star Citizen development trajectory.
Hubble was repaired 5 times on orbit. That won't be an option for JWST.

I think the fact that it can't be repaired is one thing driving the cost way up. Would've been better to just launch a functional but not perfect one, then build another to launch when the first failed.