Did an earthquake finish off giant Arecibo mega-telescope?

The RSCIBO Observatory, once the largest telescope on Earth, collapsed following a series of structural failures. The collapse was triggered by a regional earthquake, which caused the tops of the support towers to snap, dropping the detector platform onto the reflector dish. This event was anticipated after previous cable failures. Initial studies suggest the collapse began with a stressed cable snapping, leading to the platform's fall and lateral stresses on the towers. Engineers believe the failure of one cable strand caused stresses that the towers couldn't withstand.

What event triggered the collapse of the RSCIBO Observatory?

• A volcanic eruption

• A strong windstorm

• A lightning strike

• A regional earthquake

What was the initial cause of the failure sequence leading to the collapse?

• A highly stressed cable snapped

• A software malfunction

• A power outage

• A meteor strike

What did the initial studies of the debris field indicate?

• The failure sequence started with a cable snapping

• The telescope was hit by a meteor

• The support towers were poorly constructed

• The reflector dish was too heavy

How did the platform's support structure behave during the collapse?

• It fell sideways into the crater

• It disintegrated in mid-air

• It was completely destroyed

• It remained intact and upright

What did engineers assume about the support towers?

• They snapped due to lateral stresses

• They were designed to withstand earthquakes

• They were made of weak materials

• They were improperly installed