NASA has reactivated key instruments aboard its ageing Swift Observatory to squeeze out a final burst of scientific data before the spacecraft burns up in Earth's atmosphere. The decision comes after a rescue mission to boost Swift into a higher, safer orbit failed, leaving mission managers to prioritise scientific return over preserving what little orbital lifetime remains.

The Ultraviolet/Optical and X-ray telescopes, switched off in February to reduce drag and buy time for the reboost attempt, were turned back on last week, with the Burst Alert Telescope due to resume operations in September. The rescue effort collapsed after control problems with Katalyst Space's LINK spacecraft ruled out a capture attempt; LINK is now raising its own orbit with plans only to phase near Swift rather than grapple it. Resuming observations means Swift, in orbit for more than two decades, is now expected to drop below the critical 185-mile (300km) altitude threshold within one to two months, likely triggering reentry as soon as October.