III 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 467 

Recognizing the contributions made by the 305-meter radio telescope at the 

Arecibo Observatory. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 2, 2021 

Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself, Mr. RUBIO, Ms. WARREN, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. 

SCOTT of Florida, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. SINEMA, and Mr. MURPHY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

FEBRUARY 10, 2022 

Committee discharged; considered, amended, and agreed to with an amended 

preamble 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the contributions made by the 305-meter radio 

telescope at the Arecibo Observatory. 

Whereas the Department of Defense began developing the 

Arecibo Observatory located in Barrio Esperanza, Arecibo, Puerto Rico, during the 1950s, and its characteristic instrument, a large radio telescope of 305 meters in diameter was completed in 1963; 

Whereas the facility was later owned by the National Science 

Foundation, and supported by the National Aeronautics 

and Space Administration and various university partners; 


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SRES 467 ATS 

Whereas the Arecibo Observatory’s 305-meter fixed spherical 

radio telescope, was the world’s largest single-dish radio 

telescope until the Five-Hundred-Meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope located in Gizhou, China, began observing in 2016; 

Whereas the 305-meter radio telescope made unparalleled 

contributions to the fields of radio astronomy, planetary, 

and atmospheric sciences, and played a role in inspiring 

thousands of students in Puerto Rico, the Nation, and 

the world to pursue careers in STEM fields through the 

Arecibo Observatory Education and Public Outreach Programs; 

Whereas the radio telescope significantly advanced the field 

of radio astronomy, including the first indirect detection 

of gravitational waves, the first detection of extrasolar 

planets, innumerable contributions to the field of time domain astronomy and the study of the interstellar medium, and played a key role in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence; 

Whereas the Arecibo Observatory had the best planetary 

radar system in the world, used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for near-Earth object 

detection and was a part of the agency’s planetary defense program; 

Whereas the planetary radar at the Arecibo Observatory has 

contributed fundamentally and significantly to the knowledge of the solar system; 

Whereas the Arecibo Observatory’s Incoherent Scatter Radar 

and supporting facilities have provided fundamental understanding of the ionosphere and upper atmosphere, and 

the interface between the atmosphere and space that proVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:47 Feb 10, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR467.ATS SR467

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SRES 467 ATS 

tects the planet from solar wind, meteors, and other potential threats; and 

Whereas December 1, 2021, marks the 1-year anniversary of 

the uncontrolled collapse sustained by the radio telescope 

after a series of cable failures in tower 4: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) acknowledges the loss of the Arecibo Ob3 servatory’s radio telescope due to its collapse and its 

4 implications for the loss of a unique world-class mul5 tidisciplinary science facility which conducted re6 search in the areas of space and atmospheric 

7 sciences, radar astronomy and planetary sciences, 

8 astronomy, and astrophysics; 

9 (2) acknowledges that the uncontrolled collapse 

10 of the 305-meter radio telescope represents a re11 markable loss of astronomical observation capabili12 ties, scientific research and development, planetary 

13 defense capabilities, and applied science advantage 

14 for the United States; 

15 (3) recognizes the rich scientific, educational, 

16 and economic benefits that the Arecibo Telescope 

17 has made to the people of Puerto Rico, the Nation, 

18 and the world; 

19 (4) recognizes the work and contributions made 

20 by the thousands of dedicated staff who have supVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:47 Feb 10, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR467.ATS SR467

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SRES 467 ATS 

1 ported the Arecibo Observatory for close to 6 dec2 ades; 

3 (5) commends the National Science Foundation 

4 for convening a virtual workshop in June 2021, to 

5 explore ideas for future scientific and educational ac6 tivities at the Arecibo Observatory; and 

7 (6) encourages the National Science Founda8 tion, in consultation with the National Aeronautics 

9 and Space Administration, and other agencies to 

10 study means of replacing the scientific capabilities 

11 that were lost at the Arecibo Observatory, utilizing 

12 new state-of-the-art technologies at the site. 

Æ 


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