Science & space · Space · Impact 1 Watch

NASA's Swift telescope re-enters Earth's atmosphere after 22 years in orbit

4 Nov 2026, 21:35 UTC · ≈ Low Earth orbit · single source so far

NASA's Swift space telescope plunged to Earth on Wednesday, ending a 22-year mission studying gamma-ray bursts and exploding stars.

Location: ≈ Low Earth orbit
Coordinates: ≈ 0.00°N 0.00°E
Reported: 4 Nov 2026, 21:35 UTC
Category: Science & space · Space
Impact: 1 of 5 · Watch
Situation: Space exploration

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NASA's Swift telescope re-enters atmosphere after 22 years in orbit

NASA's Swift space telescope plunged to Earth on Wednesday, ending a 22-year mission studying gamma-ray bursts and exploding stars. The re-entry was uncontrolled, after a failed rescue attempt left the observatory unable to steer or observe. NASA also picked three companies for Ka-band space relay concept work.

Swift, launched in 2004, could no longer steer or observe before its uncontrolled re-entry.
NASA selected three firms to develop Ka-band relay concepts compatible with current missions.
NASA says an Alta-X drone carrying its SPLICE payload completed simulated lunar landing manoeuvres on Aug. 27.
A Hubble study of 37 nearby dwarf galaxies found much of their expected oxygen is missing.

Updated 4 Nov 2026, 21:49 UTC · Written by Claude from the reports on this page and on the map. Check the linked sources for full details.

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