The ALMA Observatory has had to suspend operations due to a cyberattack, authorities reported on November 2.
The attack, which occurred last weekend, targeted the computer systems of ALMA, causing the observatory’s website to crash for four days and forcing a halt to scientific observation activities.
“The threat has now been contained, and our team of experts is working diligently to restore the affected systems,” authorities stated yesterday.
The attack did not compromise the antenna systems or any scientific data. However, it remains uncertain when the observatory will be able to return to normal operations.
American data analyst Tristan Ashton stands beside the giant antennas (most with a diameter of 12 m) at the ALMA Observatory in Chile. (Photo: AFP)
ALMA, which stands for Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, consists of 66 antennas spread across 16 kilometers, making it the largest network of telescopes in the world. It is also one of the highest observatories, installed at an altitude of over 5,000 meters in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile.
The powerful antenna system of ALMA allows for the detection of distant galaxies forming at the edge of the universe, the observation of molecular gas and dust, the study of stars, planetary systems, and the search for extraterrestrial life, according to the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the co-operator of the facility.
Since commencing full-time operations in 2013, ALMA has revealed exoplanets forming from stardust, observed intense light from nearby stars, and provided new insights into powerful cosmic radiation explosions known as gamma-ray bursts. ALMA was also part of the Event Horizon Telescope project, which captured the first direct image of a black hole in 2019.
This observatory, valued at up to $1.4 billion, is a major international collaborative project involving the European Union, the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Chile. Approximately 300 experts are responsible for operating the computers, servers, data storage systems, and powerful displays of ALMA.
