NASA's Swift Observatory Could Fall to Earth Within Weeks

Things are not looking good for a celebrated NASA observatory. Here is a look at the inevitable demise of this long-serving telescope and the failed attempt to rescue it from its free fall.

Swift Space Telescope Falling Out of Orbit

An iconic space telescope is falling out of orbit and heading toward Earth, despite last-ditch attempts to rescue it. The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is likely weeks away from plummeting to Earth after a rescue mission designed to boost its orbit failed.

It has been nearly 22 years since Swift was launched into space to collect data. The astrophysics multi-tool telescope was originally engineered to observe explosions known as gamma-ray bursts; however, Swift has been used to collect data for other purposes as well.

The observatory weighs a whopping 3,200 pounds and is currently orbiting roughly 200 miles above Earth. Scientists warn that it will become increasingly difficult to operate the telescope once it dips to 185 miles, expected to happen by the middle of October. NASA believes that Swift will fall out of its orbit at this time and dive through the atmosphere on its way back to Earth.

Is there anything to worry about as the large observatory comes hurtling back into the atmosphere and toward the ground? Space-tracking company LeoLabs said that “While it’s possible some hardware from the Swift spacecraft may survive re-entry due to its size, the probability of debris causing significant property damage or physical harm to anyone is very small. More likely, as is the case with most debris that survives re-entry, it will fall into the ocean or on land that’s uninhabited.”