wiredinUSA April 2014

High level cable repair following earthquake

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.

wiredInUSA - April 2014

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