Watch the drone footage of the Arecibo observatory collapse

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UPDATE Friday December 4th: Drone footage of the Arecibo Observatory collapse has been officially shared online by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Two videos from different angles put the collapse in full view.

The cables seemingly come off out of nowhere, the giant telescope swings and swings in slow motion before quickly picking up speed and disappearing under the foliage in the first video. Shards fly through the air and clouds of debris fly from below. It is a shocking picture.

The second video is shot from the point of view of a drone, higher above the Observatory. This more shocking footage shows exactly when and how the cables burst from the main section, and you watch in helpless horror as the entire contraption falls before your eyes.

Watch the incredible, yet heartbreaking, moments shared via two videos below:

Read on for the original article:

The suspended platform of the 1000 feet (305 meters) of the Arecibo Observatory telescope, an icon of astronomy, collapsed on itself overnight in Puerto Rico, according to the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Scientists and engineers feared that catastrophic end was imminent after several cables supporting the platform had broken in recent months. The inevitable has now arrived and the 900 ton platform suspended above the radio antenna has fallen 450 feet (140 meters) below 8 a.m. local time and caused enormous damage, photos online.

The platform has lost its battle with gravity

Just weeks ago, officials said the telescope was to be dismantled amid security fears. This was the final blow to the famous telescope that contributed to astronomical discoveries for 57 years and had its share of hurricanes, storms and earthquakes. Now the platform, with its damaged and worn cables trying to hold it down for months, has lost its battle with gravity.

Fortunately, no one was injured, according to staff at the Puerto Rico observatory. The NSF said in a statement that an investigation into the fall of the platform was underway. According to the first findings, the upper sections of the three towers holding the platform came loose and the structure fell after that, CNN reports.

This set off a chain reaction where the worn telescope support cables also fell and caused major damage to the learning center located near Arecibo.

SEE ALSO: 23 TECHNICAL DISASTERS OF ALL TIMES

You can listen to Ángel Vázquez, head of telescope operations at Arecibo, explain the collapse below:

Initial assessments are underway

“Early results indicate that the top of the three … telescope support towers broke. When the 900-ton instrument platform fell, the telescope’s support cables also fell. Preliminaries indicate that the observatory’s learning center sustained significant damage due to the falling cables, ”NSF wrote in a statement.

Sethuraman Panchanathan, NSF Director, said: “We are saddened by this situation but grateful that no one was injured. When engineers informed NSF the structure was unstable and posed a danger to work crews and staff of Arecibo, we took their warnings seriously. and continued to stress the importance of safety for everyone involved. We are now focusing on assessing the damage, finding ways to restore operations in d other parts of the observatory and we are working to continue to support the scientific community and the people of Puerto Rico. >>

He added: “Our goal now is to assess the damage, find ways to restore operations in other parts of the observatory, and work to continue supporting the scientific community and the people of Puerto Rico.”



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