Domestic cables replace imports at FAST telescope in Guizhou

Six domestically developed steel cables were installed on Monday at the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) in Pingtang county, Southwest China's Guizhou province.

The move marks the completion of efforts to replace imported steel cables in the telescope's cable-drive system. These cables will control the telescope's 30-ton feed cabin, which collects incoming signals, enabling real-time positioning with ultra-high precision as it operates 140 meters above the reflector.

China Central Television reported that the cables were developed entirely with domestic technology, and the research and development cost was about half that of comparable imported systems.

FAST is expected to resume normal observation operations after commissioning and testing are completed. The cables will undergo comprehensive inspections every six months to help ensure the telescope's long-term safety and stability.