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Massive space telescope to crash to Earth after failed rescue attempt: ‘What goes up must come down’
NASA’s Swift Observatory is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere after nearly 22 years in orbit, ending a mission that detected some of the universe’s most powerful events. Most of the 3,200-pound telescope should burn up, though some fragments may survive; NASA estimates the chance of anyone being harmed at about 1 in 2,100.
A rescue attempt by Katalyst Space failed after its Link robot came no closer than 7 to 9 miles from Swift, and the robot itself returned to Earth in September. Swift launched in November 2004 and recorded more than 2,000 gamma-ray bursts and 1,400 exploding stars, while alerting Hubble, Webb and other telescopes to investigate. Solar activity hastened its descent, and scientists are now working out how to replace its role.
In short
- Swift is expected to fall back to Earth after nearly 22 years.
- NASA says the risk of harm is about 1 in 2,100.
- The telescope recorded thousands of high-energy cosmic events.