NASA's Swift Observatory Expected to Make Fiery Re-entry into Earth's Atmosphere

NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a 3,200-pound spacecraft that has studied cosmic explosions for nearly 22 years, is expected to make an uncontrolled re-entry into Earth's atmosphere on November 4, 2026. While most of the observatory is predicted to burn up, some pieces may reach the ground, though NASA estimates the risk of harm to anyone on Earth as approximately 1 in 2,100. A recent rescue mission to boost its orbit failed.