The culprit of the 300-foot telescope collapse

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The culprit of the 300-foot telescope collapse

The metal gusset plate that failed on the 300-foot telescope

On the night of November 15, 1988, the 300-foot Telescope in Green Bank West Virginia collapsed. After an investigation, a large but sheared metal gusset plate was found in the wreckage. The exact triangular plate can be seen in this photo taken during construction of the 300-foot in 1961.

Credit: J. Hellerman, NRAO/AUI/NSF

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The culprit of the 300-foot telescope collapse

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The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the U.S. National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
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