---
title: "Congress Is Investigating the Collapsed Arecibo Observatory"
description: "Congress is expecting a progress report from the National Science Foundation on how to rebuild the collapsed radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory."
date: "2021-01-05"
modified: "2021-01-05"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/congress-investigating-collapsed-arecibo-observatory"
categories:
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "Arecibo"
  - "congress"
  - "space"
  - "the digest"
---

# Congress Is Investigating the Collapsed Arecibo Observatory

![Congress is expecting a progress report from the National Science Foundation on how to rebuild the collapsed radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/congress-investigate-collapsed-arecibo-observatory.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: NAIC\</em\>*

## Time To Rebuild

In December, the radio telescope at Puerto Rico's [Arecibo Observatory abruptly collapsed](<https://futurism.com/arecibo-seti-telescope-collapses-completely>) after enduring months of structural damage.

Now, Congress is calling for a progress report from the National Science Foundation (NSF), which is investigating the damage as well as what it would take to rebuild the iconic bastion of astronomical and SETI research, *[Space.com ](<https://www.space.com/arecibo-observatory-congress-report-puerto-rico-funding.html>)*[reports](<https://www.space.com/arecibo-observatory-congress-report-puerto-rico-funding.html>). Details are still scarce, but the NSF's insistence that the facility isn't closing down is a reassuring sign that officials are taking the mounting public and scientific pressure to restore the facility seriously.

## Hanging On

The Arecibo Observatory operated for nearly six full decades before a series of structural problems gradually brought the telescope down. In November, the NSF decided to [decommission and demolish Arecibo's telescope](<https://futurism.com/arecibo-alien-hunting-observatory-is-being-demolished>), but it collapsed on its own soon afterward.

Since then, scientists and the science-curious public [have petitioned the government](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/researchers-rebuild-collapsed-arecibo-observatory>) to fund repairs and reconstruction. *Space.com* reports that Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez has already allocated $8 million to the effort, but NSF spokespeople told the publication that it's too soon to know how much it will end up costing.

## Progress Report

Congress expects a status update on the investigation from the NSF by late February as dictated by the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill that allocates the agency's funding, *Space.com* reports.

"As the Arecibo Observatory's 305-meter telescope only recently collapsed, NSF cannot comment on any potential future plans at this time," an NSF spokesperson told *Space.com*. "However, we will continue to work with Congress on the issue, including complying with language accompanying the new omnibus spending package."

**READ MORE:** [Congress asks for report on Arecibo radio telescope collapse](<https://www.space.com/arecibo-observatory-congress-report-puerto-rico-funding.html>) \[*Space.com*\]

**More on Arecibo:** *[Arecibo SETI Telescope Collapses Completely](<https://futurism.com/arecibo-seti-telescope-collapses-completely>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)