NASA's Swift Observatory Expected to Reenter Earth's Atmosphere After Failed Rescue Mission

NASA's Swift Observatory, a space telescope that has operated for nearly 22 years, is anticipated to reenter Earth's atmosphere around November 4, 2026. A rescue mission to push the telescope into a higher orbit failed, making it difficult to predict the exact landing location, though South Korea is outside the possible fall zone. The 1.5-ton telescope is expected to largely burn up upon atmospheric entry.