Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.
mission concerning a space observatory in low earth orbit measuring gamma ray radiation
NASA Swift Observatory Nears Reentry After Rescue Spacecraft Fails
NASA’s 22-year-old Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is descending toward an expected atmospheric reentry later in 2026 after a $30 million commercial rescue mission failed when its spacecraft suffered control problems and ran short of fuel. Swift may continue gathering science as it loses altitude; most of the telescope is expected to burn up, and any surviving debris is unlikely to threaten people on the ground.
Science · 14 sources · Oct 2, 2026Read it
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About Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory
Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, previously called the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Explorer, is a NASA three-instrument space observatory for studying gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and monitoring the afterglow in X-ray and UV/visible light at the location of a burst. It was launched on 20 November 2004, aboard a Delta II launch vehicle. Headed by principal investigator Neil Gehrels until his death in February 2017, the mission was developed in a joint partnership between Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and an international consortium from the United States, United Kingdom, and Italy.
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- http://swift.gsfc.nasa.gov, https://swift.gsfc.nasa.gov/