The story of the collapse of the Arecibo telescope is now well known. On 10 August 2020, a steel cable supporting a 900-ton instrument platform high above the dish broke at one end and fell, slicing into the dish. A second support cable snapped on 6 November and the National Science Foundation said attempting repairs was too dangerous: Arecibo would be dismantled. On 1 December, fate took control as more cables snapped and the platform came crashing down into the dish. The loss dismayed scientists worldwide. Although 57 years old, Arecibo was still a scientific trailblazer. The public, familiar with the majestic dish from films such as Contact and GoldenEye, also felt the loss. And it was a bitter blow to the people of Puerto Rico, who embraced hosting the technological marvel. Some experts think manufacturing flaws or poor maintenance doomed the suspension cables. Others blame dwindling funding levels. But astronomers are looking to the future. Last month, researchers announced plans for a new $400 million telescope on the same site.

阿雷西博望远镜崩溃的故事现在众所周知。2020年8月10日，一根支撑在碟形物上方高900吨仪表平台的钢缆的一端断裂并掉落，切成碟形。11月6日，第二条支撑电缆断裂，美国国家科学基金会说，试图进行维修太危险了：将拆除阿雷西博。12月1日，命运接管了更多电缆，并且平台坠入了碟中。损失使全世界的科学家感到沮丧。尽管57岁，但Arecibo仍然是科学开拓者。公众熟悉诸如Contact和GoldenEye等电影中的雄伟菜肴，也感到了损失。这对拥抱主办技术奇迹的波多黎各人民是一个沉重的打击。一些专家认为制造缺陷或维护不善注定了悬挂电缆。其他人则归咎于资金水平的下降。但是天文学家正在展望未来。上个月，研究人员宣布了在同一地点建造新的价值4亿美元的望远镜的计划。