Reconstruction of the Arecibo Observatory could cost $ 400 million

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San Juan – Reconstruction of the radio telescope at Puerto Rico’s Arecibo Observatory would cost $ 400 million, estimated on Tuesday by Gerardo Morell, director of Puerto Rico’s Nasa Space Grant, an organization that helps develop local science and technology in areas 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 intended for design. I can give you a more accurate cost estimate. But, as a good physicist, the approximate calculations are that the number fluctuates around $ 400 million, “Morell said in an interview with Radio Isla 1320.

According to Morell, there are talks between the director of the Observatory and the new administration of the governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi, with the intention of rebuilding the radio telescope, which collapsed on December 1 after 57 years of operation.

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

By executive order, the governor also said to establish the reconstruction of the observatory as a public policy.

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

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

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

The governor of Puerto Rico insisted on his desire for this place to continue to be of tourist interest – it has been visited annually by over 100,000 tourists and scientists.

The radio telescope crashed on December 1.

  • The Arecibo Observatory is one of the architectural wonders of Puerto Rico, with a high value for the local and international scientific community.

    The Arecibo Observatory is one of the architectural wonders of Puerto Rico, with a high value for the local and international scientific community. (Media GFR)

  • This research center has been the epicenter of important scientific discoveries since it opened its doors from November 1, 1963 until now.

    This research center has been the epicenter of important scientific discoveries since it opened its doors from November 1, 1963 until now. (Media GFR)

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

    Until 2016, it was the largest fixed-aperture radio telescope in the world, with a 1,000-foot spherical reflector. (Media GFR)

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

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

  • 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)

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

    The radio telescope is currently managed by the Central University of Florida (UCF), the Cupey campus of Ana G. Méndez University. (Media GFR)

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

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

  • In 1974, the radio telescope was used to send the

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

  • He was also a key player in the 1997 film

    He was also a key player in the 1997 film “Contact,” starring Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey. (Media GFR)

  • Meanwhile, in 1995 the radio telescope was the scene of James Bond's last confrontation in the film

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

  • 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 pulsar class, 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 pulsar class, PSR 1937 + 21. (GFR Media)

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

    In 1992, scientists used the radio telescope to reveal, for the first time, the existence of ice at the north and south poles of Mercury, and in the same year researchers discovered the first exoplanet. (Media GFR)

  • 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 Media)

  • In 2017, the Arecibo Observatory found two pulsars with the ability to

    In 2017, the Arecibo Observatory found two pulsars with the ability to “disappear” for long periods of time. (Media GFR)

  • In August 2020, a support cable damaged the Arecibo Observatory board, so that all scientific observation and research work was stopped.

    In August 2020, a support cable damaged the Arecibo Observatory board, so that all scientific observation and research work was stopped. (Media GFR)

  • The cable created a crack almost 100 meters long in a section of the Arecibo Observatory vessel.

    The cable created a crack almost 100 meters long in a section of the Arecibo Observatory vessel.

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

    The broken cable was one of 18 that carried the weight of almost 900 tons of the receiver and transmitter module suspended above the reflector. (Media GFR)

  • Later, in November 2020, another support cable broke and caused damage to the structure plate. Both incidents endanger the structure

    Subsequently, in November 2020, another support cable broke and caused damage to the structure plate. Both incidents endanger the structure (Media GFR)

  • After several studies by engineers, the National Foundation for Science decided to close completely to carry out a partial demolition of the structure.

    After several studies by engineers, the National Science Foundation decided to close completely to carry out a partial demolition of the structure. (Media GFR)

  • Despite its demolition, they will seek to explore the possibilities of expanding the educational capacity of the learning center.

    Despite its demolition, they will seek to explore the possibilities of expanding the educational capacity of the learning center. (Media GFR)

The radio telescope’s platform collapsed due to several months of structural failures that led NSF to recently announce its decommissioning.

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

The first of the failures took place in August, when one of the cables broke, which worsened on November 6, when a second one cracked, leaving it extremely weak.

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