{"page":"\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/resources-572d6a42.css\" /\u003e\n\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/lp_boclips_stylesheets-f4d0de30.css\" media=\"all\" /\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-title='Observatory in Puerto Rico gets a paint job.' data-url='/boclips/videos/5c54bb43d8eafeecae123c2a' data-video-url='/boclips/videos/5c54bb43d8eafeecae123c2a' id='bo_player_modal'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='boclips-resource-page modal-dialog panel-container'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='react-notifications-root'\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-header'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-type'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-regular fa-circle-play'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nVideo\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class='rp-title' id='video-title'\u003e\nObservatory in Puerto Rico gets a paint job.\n\u003c/h1\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-actions'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='mr-1'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"btn btn-success\" data-posthog-event=\"Signup: LP Signup Activity\" data-posthog-location=\"body_link_boclips\" data-remote=\"true\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGet Free Access\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e for 10 Days\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e!\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-body'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-info'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Hide resource details' class='rp-hide-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u0026times;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Expand resource details' class='rp-expand-info fai fa-solid fa-up-right-and-down-left-from-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Compress resource details' class='rp-compress-info fai fa-solid fa-down-left-and-up-right-to-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-rating'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='resource-pool'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-label'\u003ePublisher:\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-name'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='text'\u003e\u003ca data-publisher-id=\"30356011\" href=\"/search?publisher_ids%5B%5D=30356011\"\u003eCurated Video\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-description'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='short-description'\u003e1. Aerial still of telescope (mute)2. Telescope sign  3.Telescope platform framed by trees4. Various of towers that support dish5. Various of worker walking to wide of structure6. Various still of painters at work on dish (mute)7....\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='full-description hide'\u003e1. Aerial still of telescope (mute)\u003cbr/\u003e2. Telescope sign  \u003cbr/\u003e3.Telescope platform framed by trees\u003cbr/\u003e4. Various of towers that support dish\u003cbr/\u003e5. Various of worker walking to wide of structure\u003cbr/\u003e6. Various still of painters at work on dish (mute)\u003cbr/\u003e7. SOUNDBITE (English): Bob Kerr, General Director of Arceibo Observatory:\u003cbr/\u003e\"It is a very strange thing to be painting this platform on one hand and on the other hand thinking  that we may be closed down in two and a half years.  But here the funding agency has agreed with our management to say, 'well it's like detailing your car'. If there is to be future funding, we certainly have to be in the most fit shape we can possibly be in.\"\u003cbr/\u003e8. Various of painting containment tents\u003cbr/\u003e9. SOUNDBITE (English): Skip MacDonald, Quality Control Manager, Spensieri Painting, Inc:\u003cbr/\u003e\"This has to be light, because as you see, it is suspended, It is suspended by the cables and it's a suspension thing, so weight is a very important part of it.\"\u003cbr/\u003e10. Worker entering containment tent (mute) \u003cbr/\u003e11. SOUNDBITE (English): Skip MacDonald, Quality Control Manager, Spensieri Painting, Inc:\u003cbr/\u003e\"The awesome part is walking this walkway every morning to go to work- 800 feet \"\u003cbr/\u003e12. Various of maximum capacity sign \u003cbr/\u003e13. Various of workers on suspended walkway to entire structure\u003cbr/\u003e14. MacDonald walking back along walkway\u003cbr/\u003e15.  Platform through control room windows\u003cbr/\u003e16. Computer screen\u003cbr/\u003e17. SOUNDBITE (English): Paulo Friere, Astronomy Research Associate: \u003cbr/\u003e\"That antennae is picking up signals from space all the time, so we can use those to search the heavens for any possible alien civilisations\"\u003cbr/\u003e18. Display screen showing incoming signal\u003cbr/\u003e19. Various of monitor showing live video of telescope through window\u003cbr/\u003e20. SOUNDBITE (English): Paulo Friere, Astronomy Research Associate: \u003cbr/\u003e\"Until 1992, the only planets that were known in the universe were the planets orbiting our own sun. So for many centuries there had been the conjecture that there would be planets around other stars. the first planets outside our solar system were found with this telescope in 1992.  They were orbiting one of these pulsars.\"\u003cbr/\u003e21. Various of scientist working with blueprints in control room\u003cbr/\u003e22. Various of dish to platform\u003cbr/\u003e23. Various of platform struts, showing painted and unpainted sections\u003cbr/\u003e24. Painter walking across narrow platform\u003cbr/\u003e25. SOUNDBITE (English): Paulo Friere, Astronomy Research Associate: \"There's a whole vast amount of science that we can do with astronomy. It has kept us busy for 40 years and I hope for another 40 too.\"\u003cbr/\u003e26. Various of beams and scenery\u003cbr/\u003e27. Various of dish\u003cbr/\u003eThe Arecibo Observatory is the largest radio telescope in existence.\u003cbr/\u003eIt is located in the mountains of Puerto Rico, where the terrain makes a natural dish shape that helps block out interference.\u003cbr/\u003eThe observatory's days may be numbered as budget cuts seem imminent.  \u003cbr/\u003eHowever, the observatory is currently taking on a more down to earth project- receiving a paint job.\u003cbr/\u003eThe Arecibo Observatory is the only structure of its kind in the world.\u003cbr/\u003eThe receiver platform is suspended in mid air by 18 cables strung from three enormous concrete pillars.\u003cbr/\u003eThe platform hangs 450 feet above the dish  - which is itself 1000 feet across.\u003cbr/\u003eThe telescope has been operating since 1963 - but it may be shut down in the next two years due to budget cuts.\u003cbr/\u003eIts budget will plummet from $10.5 million this year to $4 million by 2010 with the savings going to construct a telescope 20 times more powerful, perhaps in Australia or South Africa. \u003cbr/\u003eOwned by the National Science Foundation and operated by Cornell University, the Arecibo facility is receiving a makeover to persuade federal officials to keep it open, including a $3.5 million paint job to keep its steel structure from corroding in the humid Caribbean air.\u003cbr/\u003eThe complex painting project will cost four million dollars.\u003cbr/\u003eBob Kerr is the director of the facility.\u003cbr/\u003eHe says it is very strange to think that the platform is now being painted, and that in two and a half years they may be shut down.\u003cbr/\u003eThe unusual structure means the paint job comes with a particular set of challenges.\u003cbr/\u003eSkip MacDonald is a steel painter in charge of quality control on this job - he's worked on dozens of bridges and towers around the world.\u003cbr/\u003eHe says that because the structure is suspended by cable, their painting equipment must be very light.\u003cbr/\u003eSection by section, the telescope is encased in a plastic containment.\u003cbr/\u003eThe old paint is sandblasted off and then the new paint applied.\u003cbr/\u003eIt will take about a thousand gallons to paint the whole structure.\u003cbr/\u003eSome of the old paint has lead content, but as it is removed, it is mixed with a substance that renders it non-toxic.\u003cbr/\u003eThe waste is pumped out through these pipes and transported to a landfill in Puerto Rico.\u003cbr/\u003eTo keep the weight down, all major equipment and supplies have to be kept on land.\u003cbr/\u003eKerr says the most amazing part of the project is walking along the suspended bridge to work.\u003cbr/\u003eThe suspended bridge is also the conduit for all supplies and materials for the paint job.\u003cbr/\u003eThe telescope might look familiar -- it was featured in both the 1997 movie \"Contact\" with Jodie Foster, and the and the James Bond film \"Goldeneye\" in 1995.\u003cbr/\u003eIn \"Contact\", actress Jodie Foster receives a message from an alien civilisation.\u003cbr/\u003eIn actual fact, listening to the heavens for messages from aliens is one of the projects being carried out at the telescope.\u003cbr/\u003eScientists control the telescope's movements and receive information from the control room on the hilltop edge of the dish.\u003cbr/\u003ePaulo Friere is a Astronomy Research Associate.\u003cbr/\u003eHe says that the structure's antennae is used to picking up signals from the heavens.\u003cbr/\u003eIt has recorded a number of scientific discoveries, including the first planets beyond the solar system and lakes of hydrocarbons on Saturn's moon Titan. \u003cbr/\u003eFriere says that the first planets outside of our solar system were discovered here in 1992.\u003cbr/\u003eThe telescope also searches for and tracks earth-crossing asteroids.\u003cbr/\u003eIf an asteroid were going to hit he earth, scientists at Aricebo would be the first to know.\u003cbr/\u003eFriere says there is a vast amount of science and astronomy still yet to explore.\u003cbr/\u003eThe observatory's paint job is scheduled to be completed by mid-August and the facility will be back in operation by September.\u003cbr/\u003eOfficials said that regardless of what happens with the possible budget cuts, the telescope's visitor centre, which draws about 120,000 people a year, would remain open.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='action-container flex justify-between'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' aria-label='Read more description' class='rp-full-description' type='button'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fai fa-solid fa-align-left'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cspan id='read_more'\u003eRead More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-report'\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='resource-details-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='resource-details-heading'\u003eResource Details\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-resource-details clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eCurator Rating\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan class=\"star-rating\" aria-label=\"3.5 out of 5 stars\" role=\"img\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star-half-stroke text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-regular fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt class=\"educator-rating-title\"\u003eEducator Rating\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"educator-rating-details\" data-path=\"/educator_ratings/rrp_data?resourceable_id=1031708\u0026amp;resourceable_type=Boclips%3A%3AVideoMetadata\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"not-yet-rated\"\u003eNot yet Rated\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eGrade\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd title=\"Grade\"\u003eHigher Ed\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eSubjects\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;search_tab_id=1\u0026amp;subject_ids%5B%5D=1216220\"\u003eAll Subjects\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eMedia Type\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;search_tab_id=2\u0026amp;type_ids%5B%5D=4543650\"\u003eNews Clips\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eSource:\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eDate\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e2007\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-solid fa-language'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eAudiences\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?audience_ids%5B%5D=371079\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;search_tab_id=1\"\u003eFor Teacher Use\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\u003cdd class=\"text-muted\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-lock mr5\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e2 more...\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='concepts-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='concepts-heading'\u003eConcepts\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='details-list concepts' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator' data-type='concepts'\u003eastronomy, planets, business, light, puerto rico, orbiting, asteroids, suspension\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='concepts-toggle-buttons' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' class='more btn-link' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-down ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='true' class='less btn-link' style='display: none;' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow Less\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-up ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='additional-tags-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='additional-tags-heading'\u003eAdditional Tags\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='details-list keyterms' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator' data-type='keyterms'\u003ehand, caribbean, extrasolar planets, contractor, jodie foster, corporate news, production facilities, planetary systems, science, cable, latin america and caribbean\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='keyterms-toggle-buttons' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' class='more btn-link' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-down ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='true' class='less btn-link' style='display: none;' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow Less\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-up ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='educator-ratings-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title sr-only' id='educator-ratings-heading'\u003eEducator Ratings\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"educator-ratings-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"all-educator-ratings-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"educator-rating-form-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-resource'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Show resource details' class='rp-show-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fai fa-solid fa-align-left'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nShow resource details\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Video player' class='player' id='player-wrapper' role='region'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='relative container mx-auto' id='lp-boclips-visitor-thumbnail'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"block\" data-html=\"true\" data-placement=\"bottom\" data-trigger=\"click\" data-content=\"\u003cdiv class=\u0026quot;text-center py-2\u0026quot;\u003e\u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/auth/users/sign_in\u0026quot;\u003eSign in\u003c/a\u003e or \u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold text-danger\u0026quot; data-posthog-event=\u0026quot;Signup: LP Signup Activity\u0026quot; data-posthog-location=\u0026quot;body_link_boclips\u0026quot; data-remote=\u0026quot;true\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/subscription/new\u0026quot;\u003eJoin Now\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\" data-title=\"Get Full Access\" data-container=\"body\" rel=\"popover\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Play video: Observatory in Puerto Rico gets a paint job.\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cimg class=\"resource-img img-thumbnail img-responsive z-10 lp-boclips-thumbnail w-full h-full lozad\" alt=\"Observatory in Puerto Rico gets a paint job.\" title=\"Observatory in Puerto Rico gets a paint job.\" onError=\"handleImageNotLoadedError(this)\" data-default-image=\"https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/missing.png\" data-src=\"https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/missing.png\" width=\"315\" height=\"220\" src=\"data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs\" /\u003e\n\u003cspan aria-hidden='true' class='flex justify-center items-center bg-white rounded-full w-16 h-16 absolute top-1/2 left-1/2 -mt-8 -ml-8 cursor-pointer z-0 border-2 border-primary drop-shadow-md lp-boclips-thumbnail-playBtn'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fa-solid fa-play text-primary text-3xl ml-1 drop-shadow-xl'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n"}