Report on why the Aricebo Observatory's 305-meter telescope collapsed
After years of growing concern about its poor condition, the Arecibo telescope's famed reflector was suddenly ruined by the collapse of its receiver into the dish in 2020. Engineers have completed their report into the disaster and its causes: Failure Analysis of the Arecibo 305 Meter Telescope Collapse [National Academies]
After analyzing the data and the extensive and detailed forensic investigations commissioned by the University of Central Florida and the National Science Foundation (NSF),' the committee consensus is that the root cause of the Arecibo Telescope's collapse was unprecedented and accelerated long-term zinc creep induced failure of the telescope's cable spelter sockets.
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