The drone video of the Arecibo Observatory's final moments, published by the NSF, reveals that its cables snapped at the peak of one of the three towers hanging from the instrument platform.

The video was taken just before 8 a.m. Puerto Rico local time on Dec. 1. It reveals what seems to be a calm, blue-sky morning at first. The whole structure swung downwards and split off as the key cables holding up the suspended platform over the radio dish give up.

The footage could help scientists understand what happened on the famed alien-searching observatory familiar to astronomers and science enthusiasts.

Scott Manley, who identifies himself as an astronogamer, astrophysicist and YouTube celebrity, shared a 2-minute clip of the video on his Twitter account. He said that when the collapse began, a drone examined Tower 4 cables.

 

The fall was survived by several surrounding houses, including the control room and the visitor center. However, an instructional facility appears to have been seriously affected by the dropping platform and cables.

And before its 900 ton (816 metric ton) instrument platform collapsed this week, the National Science Foundation (NSF) agreed to decommission the Arecibo Observatory.

After earthquakes shook it in January, the observatory, established in 1963, sustained major damage this year. One of its thick cables abruptly broke in August, cutting a 100-foot-long (30 meters) gash through the 305 m (1,000-foot-wide) radio dish. The remaining cables also had to hold the heavy instrument platform that was hanging over the dish with that cable gone.

On Nov. 6, when another cable broke, engineers discovered that the other cables were potentially weaker than predicted and recommended that it was not feasible to restore the structure safely, NSF said. The NSF announced on Nov. 19 that it will shut down the radio telescope.

No one was injured during the repeated faults of the observatories.

"Check out Manley's synced edited footage, with All telescope collapse cameras synced as far as I can say," he tweeted, to get another glimpse of the collapse.

Closing For Good?

After its large telescope dramatically collapsed this week, Puerto Rico's Arecibo Observatory may still have a future, US officials said Thursday.

Ralph Gaume, head of the US National Science Foundation's celestial science branch, underscored that NSF is not closing the Arecibo Observatory.

"The NSF is deeply saddened by the situation," he told reporters. He explained that the organization has a very well-defined system, including telescopes, to finance and develop large-scale facilities.

"It's very early for us to comment on the replacement," Gaume added.

Can't Be Replicated

The Arecibo telescope is just one of two planetary satellites that aid in planetary defense, leaving gaps in our security against meteorites traveling through our world if we disable the giant antenna.

"There's been statements in the media that, 'Oh we have other systems that can kind of replace what Arecibo is doing,' and I don't think that's true," said Anne Virkki, Arecibo's head of the planetary radar team. "It's not obsolete, and it's not easily replaceable by other existing facilities and instruments."

Additional study on massive space rocks orbiting a little too close to Earth to be comfortable is given by the Arecibo Observatory, enabling scientists to discern the precise height, surface, form, and most notably, the position of the asteroid.

Planetary radars, such as the Arecibo telescope, do this instantly, and may make a difference often.

The cause of the harm to the giant dish of Arecibo was not clear. However, scientists say it may be attributed to corrosion and over the years the telescope has experienced major winds, hurricanes, and earthquakes.

ALSO READ: Arecibo Observatory Telescope Collapsed Prior To Demolition Announcements

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