DC 53 Industrial Painters Perform Critical Maintenance at the Green Bank Telescope

Our industrial painters are currently working on a major maintenance project at the Green Bank Telescope in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.

The Green Bank Telescope is the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope and plays a role in national and international space research. Scientists use it to study radio waves from deep space and learn more about how the universe works.

Being exposed to weather and the elements, the telescope was cleaned and repainted to prevent rust and damage. Our members are helping with this work by blasting off the old coating and applying a new protective paint system.

This will help extend the life of the telescope and keep it in safe working condition for years to come.

The main area of work is focused on the feed arm, one of the most important parts of the structure. Holding equipment that collects and focuses the radio signals the telescope is designed to study.

This project is expected to continue through the fall of 2025. DC 53 members are proud to be part of it, using their skills and training to support a structure that’s not only important to science but also to the state of West Virginia.

Photo credit belongs to Green Bank Observatory