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NASA space telescope plunges to Earth after two decades studying cosmic explosions
Compiled Nov 4
What happened
NASA's Swift Observatory plunged to Earth on Wednesday, ending its 22-year mission studying the universe's biggest explosions.
The detail
A rescue mission to boost Swift's orbit failed less than three months before its reentry.
The detail
The U.S. Space Force confirmed Swift's reentry occurred near Indonesia.
The detail
Swift launched in 2004 for an expected two-year mission but lasted 11 times longer, observing thousands of gamma ray bursts.
How it unfolded
2004: Swift rocketed into orbit for an expected two-year study of gamma ray bursts. · Over 22 years: Swift observed thousands of gamma ray bursts, serving as a first responder for other telescopes. · July: Katalyst Space launched a robotic craft to attempt an orbit-boosting rescue of Swift. · September: The rescue craft ran into trouble and came crashing down. · Wednesday: Swift Observatory reentered Earth's atmosphere near Indonesia, as confirmed by the U.S. Space Force.
By the numbers
22 years Duration of Swift mission · 1 ½ tons Weight of Swift spacecraft · 2004 Swift launch year · 11 times longer Mission extension factor · 2032 Deadline for Hubble rescue mission
Still unresolved
It was not immediately known how much of the 1 ½-ton Swift spacecraft burned up in the atmosphere.