In the canyon between the islands of Puerto Rico in the United States, there used to be a giant, unilateral, radio telescope like China's "eye in the sky", the largest in the world. The radio telescope, known as the "Arecibo," was built at a cost of $260 million by the United States. But now, it has turned into a pile of "scrap metal" with no sign of re-establishment. This calls into question the power of the United States in space, and whether the United States has lost its ability to compete in space?
The Soviet Union's remarkable achievements in space during the Cold War were depressing for the United States. The Americans were determined to build a huge radio astronomical observatory in order to gain a place in space. Hence the Arecibo Astronomical Telescope. And now all this has become part of the American aviation industry.
Since its inauguration, the Arecibo Observatory has had a significant impact on the entire astronomical sciences, causing a revolution in astronomy. It can detect electromagnetic signals from outer space and search for living aliens. In addition, the telescope can also be used to track pulsars, look for new objects, and in some cases, observe dark matter and dark energy. In the American space industry, the Arecibo astronomical observatory is a "monument".
As the times changed, so did Arecibo's lifespan. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the use of the word was greatly reduced, and in the early 21st century, the term was abandoned. Although the United States was able to repair the telescope, they did not feel the need for it. The United States has lost a strong competitor in space, and many projects have come to a standstill. Due to the lack of maintenance for a long time, Arecibo's astronomical observation equipment has become very old, and there have been several accidents.
During a major accident at the Arecibo Astronomical Observatory, a 30-meter-long gap appeared in the mirror surface. Later, the steel cable was broken, which caused it to suffer more serious damage. As a result of these events, the Arecibo Astronomical Observatory became useless, and it was eventually announced that it would stop repairing it.
This vignette reflects the silence of the United States when it comes to space. The United States was once the dominant player in the Cold War era, but now it has come to a standstill. With the suspension of the Apollo moon landing program, the United States abandoned exploration of the moon in favor of developing a more practical space program. Projects such as the space shuttle often have accidents, which has forced the United States to suspend the project.
In contrast, China's space industry is developing at an unprecedented speed. According to the plan, China will launch a manned spacecraft in 2030, which is the second major country in the world to successfully land on the moon since the United States. While this news is encouraging, it also makes us begin to doubt the prospects of the American space industry.
The glory of the United States in space has become less and less popular with the passage of time. In contrast, there are high expectations for the rise of China's space industry, and perhaps in the future, space exploration will be led by a new leader. [China will definitely land on the moon!] 】
*: Global Network, China Youth Network.
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