The collapse of the 900-ton platform suspended above the already-damaged Arecibo Observatory means more than the fall of an important scientific tool for Puerto Ricans and researchers.

“This is where I understood my passion for planetary sciences and aerospace engineering,” Wilbert Hernandez said.

Hernandez fell in love with the Arecibo Observatory — the second-largest radio telescope in the world — as thousands of Puerto Ricans have over the past 60 years. It was originally built for military defense research but then later helped the world understand more about asteroids.

“It’s my favorite spot in the world,” Hernandez said.

Almost two weeks ago, the National Science Foundation announced it would shut down the 305-meter telescope after engineers said it would be too dangerous to repair it following a pair of cable failures this year.

Hernandez fought back with his organization, Save the Arecibo Observatory, which created a petition asking Congress to provide funding to repair the telescope.

In 11 days, more than 59,000 people signed it. 

“There was hope there was something that was going to be done about it, then waking up this morning to see that it collapsed was devastating,” said Ramon Misla David, the executive director of Puerto Ricans in STEM.

David’s organization advocated for the petition.

The NSF said Tuesday morning that the 900-ton platform suspended above the dish collapsed, with initial findings showing the top part of all three of its support towers had broken off. There were no injuries reported in connection with the collapse.

“I was completely shocked,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez and members of his organization were stunned but not defeated. They plan to change their message from saving the telescope to rebuilding it.

“We will fight for it to be reconstructed and remodeled,” Hernandez said.

The National Science Foundation said it will have environmental assessment workers on-site as early as Wednesday.