Swift Observatory Reenters Atmosphere After 22 Years
The space telescope, launched in 2004 to study cosmic explosions, ended its mission after a failed rescue attempt by a private contractor.
By Jisoo Kim ·
The Swift Observatory fell to Earth on Wednesday, concluding a 22-year mission to observe gamma-ray bursts and exploding stars. The U.S. Space Force confirmed the reentry occurred near Indonesia. The descent was caused by a sinking orbit, a result of intense solar activity over the past few years.
Swift launched into orbit in 2004. Engineers originally planned for a two-year study. The telescope operated for more than 11 times longer than that initial projection. During its active period, it recorded thousands of cosmic events. It often served as a first responder for other telescopes, alerting them to look deeper at specific targets.
NASA attempted to save the observatory earlier this year. The space agency hired Katalyst Space to perform an orbit-boosting maneuver. Katalyst launched a three-armed robotic craft in July. The vehicle encountered technical issues and crashed in September. The failure occurred less than three months before Swift’s final reentry.
Officials do not yet know how much of the 1.5-ton spacecraft burned up during atmospheric entry. NASA expects some denser components survived the plunge. The observatory was one of the agency's premier tools for studying the universe's most energetic phenomena.
NASA is now evaluating options to save the Hubble Space Telescope. Launched in 1990, Hubble is also facing orbital decay due to solar storms. Recent analyses suggest it could fall to Earth by the mid-2030s. The space agency is seeking input from private companies on how to extend its life or guide a controlled reentry.
Nicky Fox, NASA’s science mission chief, noted that the agency has more time to explore options for Hubble than it did for Swift. The space agency aims to have a plan in place by 2032. Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator, stated that Hubble has important science ahead of it. He said the agency should look at every reasonable opportunity to keep the telescope delivering data for as long as possible.
Katalyst Space’s failed rescue mission was a rapid response effort. In contrast, the Hubble rescue initiative allows for a longer planning period. Companies can propose to boost Hubble’s orbit, upgrade its systems, or guide it to a controlled reentry. They may also suggest a combination of these actions.
