The Space Force forecast the Swift telescope's atmospheric return on or around Friday
The U.S. Space Force predicts Swift Observatory will reenter on or around Friday after a failed rescue effort left it in a lower orbit. Most of the 1½-ton telescope is expected to burn up, though NASA’s Brad Cenko, the mission’s chief scientist, said tungsten pieces and mirror parts could survive. Any surviving wreckage will likely fall into the ocean.
More context
The Space Force forecasts Swift's atmospheric return on or around Friday. The failed rescue left the aging observatory in a steadily descending orbit. Most of the 1½-ton telescope should burn up, but NASA mission chief scientist Brad Cenko said some tungsten, denser than lead, and mirror parts may withstand reentry. Any fragments that survive are most likely to land in the ocean, although the reentry zone also covers parts of Africa, Australia, India, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America. Intense solar activity over the past few years dragged Swift down faster than usual. NASA hired Katalyst Space a year ago for a rescue, but its three-armed robot Link ran into trouble after launching in July. It got no closer than 7 to 9 miles (12 to 15 kilometers) to the telescope before plunging back to Earth in September.
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Reporting
- Spectrum News — NASA telescope on verge of plunging back to Earth
- Global News — NASA telescope on the verge of plunging back to Earth after failed rescue mission - National | Globalnews.ca
- Orlando Sentinel — NASA telescope is on the verge of plunging back to Earth after failed rescue mission – Orlando Sentinel
- ABC News — NASA telescope on the verge of plunging to Earth after failed rescue mission - ABC News
- LiveNOW from FOX — Aging NASA telescope sinks toward Earth after failed rescue attempt | LiveNOW from FOX
- news10.com — NASA telescope is on the verge of plunging back to Earth after failed rescue mission | AP – NEWS10 ABC
Verifier’s note
Spectrum Local News, Global News, Orlando Sentinel, ABC News, NEWS10 ABC, and LiveNOW from FOX report that NASA’s Swift Observatory is expected to reenter around Friday after a failed rescue attempt. The reports are current and confirm the proposed event; the stories largely derive from Associated Press reporting.