The beloved Arecibo radio telescope in Puero Rico will not be restored

(University of Central Florida / NSF https://bit.ly/3srqNJr)

Two years ago the beloved Arecibo radio telescope collapsed, and now the US National Science Foundation (NSF) decided not to restore it.

Instead, the organization will create an educational center, causing criticism from many scientists.

The radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico had a diameter of 305 meters, and it was the largest filled-aperture radio telescope until the advent of the FAST telescope in China.

The Arecibo Observatory worked for 57 years and conducted extensive scientific research covering the Earth's ionosphere, the solar system and stars and galaxies.

In mid-2020, a decision was made to stop the operation of the telescope due to several breaks in the cables supporting the platform with feeds above the main antenna.

Also, the repairs seemed to be a dangerous undertaking.

However, the planned decommissioning of the telescope was prevented by its unexpected destruction in early December 2020.

THE NEW PLANS
After the destruction of the radio telescope, a long process of clearing debris from the karst funnel began.

In the meantime, there were no official announcements about the future status of the observatory.

Many scientists around the world, including the Arecibo team, hoped that the NSF, which runs the observatory, would restore the telescope.

In the spring of 2021, a replacement project for Arecibo was published, called NGAT (Next Generation Arecibo Telescope).

This was a system of many small parabolic antennas inscribed in a circle with a diameter of 314 to 331 meters, working as a single antenna.

The new system should be several times more sensitive, cover more of the sky and have more powerful transmitters.

However, on October 14, 2022, NSF announced that it would not be refurbishing the radio telescope, as it requires a significant financial outlay and lengthy analysis.

Instead, a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education center will be built, which will receive $1 million to $3 million a year for five years starting in 2023.

The announcement is not clear if the funding will include the operation of the remaining instruments of the observatory.

The collapse of the structure didn’t damage a 12-meter radio antenna and a lidar system for studying the Earth's atmosphere.

The decision drew criticism from many scientists around the world who were hoping for a new telescope.

In addition, it is not entirely clear how the new center will attract new teachers and students if it does not actively conduct astronomical research.

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