[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 208 (Thursday, December 2, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S8914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 467--RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THE 305-
            METER RADIO TELESCOPE AT THE ARECIBO OBSERVATORY

  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:

                              S. Res. 467

       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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