The Chinese Academy of Sciences has launched an investigation into reports that visitors could access the core zone of the FAST radio telescope by paying ¥2,688 for a hotel stay. Guests at the Light Years Away hotel were allegedly granted entry to the telescope's ring beam, bypassing standard security protocols that restrict electronic devices.
Regulations under the Guizhou Province protection measures for the 500-meter aperture spherical radio telescope strictly prohibit the use of radio equipment and electronic devices within the core zone to ensure operational integrity. These rules apply to smartphones, cameras, tablets, and drones, which are banned to prevent electromagnetic interference.
Following the public disclosure of these incidents, the Light Years Away hotel has been removed from multiple booking platforms, and online reservations are no longer available. Additionally, the Deep Science Popularization Experience project, which facilitated these visits, has been suspended and taken down from all sales channels.
