China Halts Construction of Large Radio Telescope in Argentina

Construction of one of South America's largest radio telescopes stopped just meters from completion in Argentina's Andes mountains. The facility is located deep in the mountain range. Work on the project ended after it had nearly finished.

Officials described the telescope as intended for astronomy and deep space observation. The site sits in a remote section of the Andes. The location provides visibility into sections of space that are harder to monitor from other regions.

The U.S. suspected the facility could also help track satellites and support military space operations. Washington reportedly became concerned about these potential uses. The project had been advancing until the sudden halt near the end of construction.