ARECIBO TELESCOPE – Arecibo, Puerto Rico
Arecibo Telescope was the world’s largest telescope for 53 years, surpassed in July 2016 by the Five Hundred Meter High Spherical Telescope (FAST) in China.
The Telescope was built for the study of ionospheric physics, radar and radio astronomy, aeronomy and dynamics of the Earth’s upper atmosphere. The facility also helped NASA select lunar landing sites as well as landing sites for the Viking missions to Mars.
After two breaks in cables supporting the receiver platform in mid-2020, the telescope was decommissioned.
Fun fact: The observatory was the backdrop to a dramatic fight scene in the 1995 James Bond movie GoldenEye with Pierce Brosnan.
Location:
Arecibo, Puerto Rico
Client:
Architect:
Kavanagh, T. C.
Scope of Supply:
Technique for slipforming of the three supporting towers for the telescope.
Total height:
Time of execution:
1962