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The iconic Arecibo observatory in Puerto Rico has received new funding from NASA to be part of the guardians of the Earth's asteroids.
NASA has awarded to the University of Central Florida (UCF) – which oversees the Arecibo Observatory – a $ 19 million grant to observe and characterize near-Earth objects that could pose a potential threat to the planet or could be viable candidates for future space missions.
Asteroids within 8 million kilometers of Earth's orbit are considered potentially dangerous by NASA, the agency just overseeing them in case a asteroid poses a threat to the Earth in the future. This is where the new grant comes in.
Related: Potentially dangerous asteroids (Images)
"Arecibo plays an important role in the discovery and advancement of our knowledge of our solar system and our universe," said Francisco Cordova, director of the observatory, says in the statement. "We also play a crucial role in helping to protect our planet by providing unique knowledge and expertise, which is part of our mission and one of the reasons our work is so passionate about us."
The UCF manages the facilities of the Arecibo Observatory on behalf of the National Science Foundation.
Since the mid-1990s, the Arecibo radio telescope has been observing up to 120 objects a year. NASA uses this data to identify asteroids or comets that could pose a threat to the Earth and mitigate potential risks. The data also helps NASA determine which asteroids could be adapted to a space mission, how to land on an asteroid and potentially extract its raw material.
In photos: The iconic Arecibo observatory in Puerto Rico
Team members working on the NASA project at the Arecibo Observatory are examining images of asteroids.
(Image credit: University of Central Florida)
"We can use our system to limit the size, shape, mass, spin state, composition, binarity, trajectory and gravitational and surface environments of near-Earth objects, which will help NASA to identify potential targets for future missions, "said Anne Virkki, Arecibo. Senior investigator of the planetary radar program, said in the statement.
The grant will also support STEM education for high school students in Puerto Rico, by teaching 30 students per semester on science and research at the observatory.
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