Title: A resolution recognizing the contributions made by the 305-meter radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory.
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
This resolution acknowledges the collapse of the radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico and encourages federal agencies to study means of replacing the observatory's lost scientific capabilities.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 467 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st 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, and Mr. 
    Scott of Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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;
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 an essential 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 protects 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
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) acknowledges the loss of the Arecibo Observatory's 
        radio telescope due to its collapse and its implications for 
        the loss of a unique world-class multidisciplinary science 
        facility which conducted research in the areas of space and 
        atmospheric sciences, radar astronomy and planetary sciences, 
        astronomy, and astrophysics;
            (2) acknowledges that the uncontrolled collapse of the 305-
        meter radio telescope represents a remarkable loss of 
        astronomical observation capabilities, scientific research and 
        development, planetary defense capabilities, and applied 
        science advantage for the United States;
            (3) recognizes the rich scientific, educational, and 
        economic benefits that the Arecibo Telescope has made to the 
        people of Puerto Rico, the Nation, and the world;
            (4) recognizes the work and contributions made by the 
        thousands of dedicated staff who have supported the Arecibo 
        Observatory for close to 6 decades;
            (5) commends the National Science Foundation for convening 
        a virtual workshop in June 2021, to explore ideas for future 
        scientific and educational activities at the Arecibo 
        Observatory; and
            (6) encourages the National Science Foundation, the 
        National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other 
        agencies to study means of replacing the scientific 
        capabilities that were lost at the Arecibo Observatory, 
        utilizing new state-of-the-art technologies at the site.
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