The Swift Observatory Is Dropping Back to Earth This Week. Here’s What to Know
Most of the space telescope is slated to burn up in the atmosphere, but some fragments may make their way down to Earth.
via CNETReported by 2 outlets
NASA expects its Swift space observatory to plunge into Earth's atmosphere
The story so far
AI summary of the reporting below · Updated · How we work
NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is scheduled to reenter Earth's atmosphere around Nov. The space telescope is facing an uncontrolled descent after an attempt to rescue the craft and adjust its orbit failed. [1][2]
Most of the observatory is anticipated to burn up during its descent, with only a few surviving fragments reaching Earth. [1]
Originally engineered for just a two-year deployment to study gamma-ray bursts, the spacecraft operated for over ten times that duration. [1]
Read the original reporting
2 outlets
Read at CNET
NASA's Swift Space Telescope is set to crash back to Earth this week
The Swift Observatory could plunge back to Earth as early as this Friday, US authorities said. The telescope is expected to undergo an uncontrolled reentry after NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies tried – and failed – to correct the spacecraft's orbit using a robotic device in September.
via TechSpot