Restoration of Scientific Capabilities at the Arecibo Observatory after the impact of Hurricane Maria

该项目旨在将阿雷西博天文台(AO)在2017年9月遭受飓风玛丽亚破坏后恢复到完全运行状态。阿雷西博天文台为包括天文学、行星科学、电离层物理以及空间天气研究和预报在内的多种科学做出了独特的贡献。其强大的天线具有世界上任何地方都无法比拟的特殊测量能力。阿雷西博天文台是一个领先的教育和公共宣传中心。它是波多黎各科学教育的灯塔，每年吸引数以万计的学童和游客。这一奖励将使阿雷西博能够恢复其全部的科学能力以及教育和公共宣传努力。该奖项授予中佛罗里达大学(UCF)与杨企业公司(YEI)合作的维修，包括14个不同的项目，按结构完整性和科学观察重要性的关键程度排序。这些项目包括：更换损坏的钢缆，这是支撑悬挂在305米主要反射面上方400多英尺的约900吨钢平台的三种缆索之一；校准主要反射面面板；对格里高利反射面进行校准；更换损坏的430兆赫馈线；恢复望远镜指向控制和数据采集系统的全部功能；以及其他几个较小的项目。这些系统对于确保阿雷西博天文台通过利用现代技术优化科学性能，在另一场飓风发生时具有弹性的系统恢复到世界级的运行状态至关重要。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project is to restore the Arecibo Observatory (AO) to full operating status after the damage it incurred from Hurricane Maria in September 2017. The Arecibo Observatory uniquely contributes to a wide variety of sciences including astronomy, planetary science, ionospheric physics, and the study and prediction of space weather. Its powerful antenna has capabilities for particular measurements unmatched anywhere in the world. The Arecibo Observatory is a leading education and public outreach center. It is a beacon of science education in Puerto Rico, attracting tens of thousands of school children and tourists annually. This award will enable Arecibo to restore its full complement of science capabilities and education and public outreach efforts. This award to the University of Central Florida (UCF) in cooperation with Yang Enterprises, Inc. (YEI) is for repairs comprising fourteen distinct projects, prioritized by criticality for both structural integrity and the importance to scientific observations. These projects include: the replacement of a compromised steel suspension cable that is one of three cables supporting the approximately 900-ton steel platform suspended more than 400 feet above the 305-meter primary reflector surface, which houses the receivers and other associated equipment; calibration of the primary reflector surface panels; alignment of the Gregorian reflector; replacement of the damaged 430 MHz line feed; restoration to full functionality of the telescope pointing control and data taking systems; along with several other smaller projects. These systems are critical to ensuring that the Arecibo Observatory has been restored to world-class operating status with resilient systems in case of another hurricane by capitalizing on modern technologies to optimize scientific performance.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.