300 Foot Telescope

300-Foot Telescope Collapse

At 9:43 p.m. EST on Tuesday the 15th of November 1988, the 300-foot telescope in Green Bank collapsed. The collapse was due to the sudden failure of a key structural element -- a large gusset plate in the box girder assembly that formed the main support for the antenna.

The loss of the 300-Foot telescope resulted in the Green Bank Telescope Project.

Photograph of the 300-foot radio telescope taken on November 15, 1988
before the collapse. Click on photo for larger image.

Photograph of the 300-foot radio telescope taken on November 16, 1988.
The telescope collapsed at 9:43 PM on November 15, 1988. Click on
photo for larger image.

Photos by Richard Porcas

Report and analysis of the collapse

Immediately following the collapse, NSF and AUI convened a panel of experts in structural engineering to determine the causes. Their report may be read here:

History and Science with the 300 Foot Telescope

Stories of the planning, construction, scientific accomplishements, and collapse of the 300 Foot telescope may be read in the recently-published book, "But it was Fun: the first 40 years of radio astronomy at Green Bank."

This book can be ordered through the Green Bank Science Center:
Ordering "But it was Fun"

Modified on Tuesday, 27-Nov-2007 15:17:37 EST