Huge space telescope plunges back to Earth after 22 years in orbit
Summary
NASA said the Swift Observatory reentered Earth’s atmosphere over North Sumatra, Indonesia, at 7:39 a.m. ET on Nov. 4, 2026. Most of the telescope burned up, though some parts may have survived; NASA had estimated the risk of harm to anyone on Earth at about 1 in 2,100.Key Facts
- The 1.5-ton observatory launched on Nov. 20, 2004, and operated until late October 2026.
- Swift searched for gamma-ray bursts, supernovas and other cosmic events.
- NASA said Swift observed more than 2,000 gamma-ray bursts and 1,400 exploding stars.
- Solar activity gradually lowered the observatory’s orbit, leading to its reentry.
- A rescue attempt by Katalyst Space failed after its Link robot could not get within seven miles of the telescope.
- NASA and the U.S. Space Force tracked Swift’s reentry.
- Swift alerted Hubble, Webb and other facilities to events for further study.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
