SpaceTrending
The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is expected to re-enter the atmosphere on November 4, following a failed attempt to raise its orbit.
NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere on Wednesday, Nov. 4, almost 22 years after its launch in 2004. The U.S. Space Force predicted the roughly 3,200-pound spacecraft will re-enter at approximately 3:30 a.m. EST on Nov. 4, with an uncertainty of 11 hours.
NASA expects most of the spacecraft to burn up during re-entry, but some components may survive. According to Brad Cenko, NASA’s chief scientist for the mission, pieces made of tungsten and parts of the mirrors could survive the process. Dean Sladen, a quality manager and aerospace engineer at Accu Components, stated that "the most likely survivors are its six heavy reaction wheels, the spinning flywheels it used to aim itself, along with tougher telescope parts such as lenses and mirrors."
Due to the observatory's low inclination, the re-entry locations of any surviving fragments are limited to between 20.6 degrees south latitude and 20.6 degrees north latitude. NASA estimates the risk of harm to anyone on Earth is approximately 1 in 2,100.
In July 2026, NASA launched a $30 million mission to rescue the observatory. The mission utilized the LINK robotic spacecraft from Katalyst Space Technologies, intended to dock with Swift and move it to a higher orbit. However, the mission was called off in August after LINK encountered attitude control issues that prevented it from maintaining proper orientation and stability in space.
Following the failed attempt, Swift's orbit continued to decay. By October 20, the satellite had sunk to 171 miles, prompting the spacecraft to enter a safe mode. NASA ended the mission's science operations on October 23.
Swift was designed as a multiwavelength observatory to study gamma-ray bursts, which are powerful cosmic explosions. Over its two-decade mission, the observatory observed more than 2,000 gamma-ray bursts and nearly as many supernova explosions. Its data has contributed to more than 7,000 research papers.
"Swift delivered an incredible, lasting return on investment for the nation, designed for a two-year primary mission but productive for more than 10 times as long," said Shawn Domagal-Goldman, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA headquarters.
As low Earth orbit becomes more crowded, uncontrolled reentries are becoming more routine. The failed attempt to service Swift provides experience for future robotic-servicing missions involving larger spacecraft, such as the Hubble Space Telescope.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
The day's checked news, by email
One short email a day with the top stories. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click.
Or follow for the latest news:
No comments yet. Start the discussion.
The Small Spacecraft Propulsion and Inspection Capability mission has lost contact with its Otter spacecraft due to a fault protection system error, making the satellite unrecoverable.
Chinese space officials have disclosed a series of missions aimed at landing astronauts on the Moon by 2030, utilizing a lunar-orbit rendezvous strategy.
