Aging NASA Swift Observatory Nearing Earth Reentry After Failed Rescue Mission

The U.S. Space Force predicts the 1.5-ton Swift Observatory will reenter Earth's atmosphere around Friday, October 31, 2026, after a rescue effort failed to boost its orbit. Most of the telescope is expected to burn up, but some denser components could survive and likely fall into the ocean. The Swift telescope operated for 22 years, observing gamma-ray bursts and supernovas.