Arecibo Observatory telescope to be closed down after suffering damage from falling support cables – ABC News

The US National Science Foundation (NSF) says it will close down the massive space telescope at Puerto Rico’s Arecibo Observatory, ending 57 years of astronomical discoveries, after suffering two destructive mishaps in recent months.

• A supportive cable slipped from its socket in August, falling and gashing a large hole in the telescope’s reflector dish
• Another cable then broke in early November, causing more damage
• The telescope helped detect asteroid Bennu, laying the groundwork for NASA to collect…

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