National Radio Astronomy Observatory Uses Spray Foam to Fix Radio Telescope

GREEN BANK, WV – August 18, 2011 – Installed in the 1960s, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO)’s 43 Meter Radio Telescope, located in Greenbank, WV, is deemed the largest equatorial radio telescope in the world. Currently, the telescope is being used in a collaborative project with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to study pulsars. Ken Wells, owner of Elite Insulation & Poly Pro, LLC, recently tells SprayFoam.com that the NRAO recently contracted him to furnish and apply spray polyurethane foam insulation and elastomeric coating on the polar shaft of the 140-foot telescope.

According to Wells, the metal exterior of the polar shaft was expanding on the sunny side and not on the shade side, due to excessive heat from the sun. The metal expansion caused measurements taken by NRAO scientists to come out inaccurate.

To solve the issue of the expanding metal, Wells and his team applied 1½ inches of 2.8 density, Lapolla closed-cell foam and Lapolla's TF-1000 quick set elastomeric coatings.

“The foam and coatings helped the polar shaft to stay at a uniform temperature,” said Wells. “If one side is exposed to the sun, it will be kept the same temperature as the opposite [non-exposed] side.”

Weather proved to be a challenging obstacle for Wells and his team while spraying the 1,000-square-foot job.

“We were given the job in September of last year [2010],” said Wells. “At the time, the roofing season was coming to a close and the weather was not favorable for an exterior foam application. The NRAO complex is way up in the mountains of West Virginia and the weather there is fairly extreme. We were forced to wait until the spring of the following year to find a suitable day.”

That day came in May 2011. With the improved weather conditions, they were able to meet all necessary safety and exterior spray application requirements for Wells and his crew to begin work on the telescope.

Two days later, the job was completed with positive reactions from the NRAO scientists.

“They absolutely loved it,” concluded Wells. “Everything went well.”

About Elite Insultation/PolyPro LLC:
Elite Insulation & PolyPro LLC is a service insulation company. Elite Insulation & PolyPro LLC has over 30 years in combined experience. The company is located in Broadway, Virginia.