NEWS

27 October 2026

A failed rescue mission means that the Swift observatory will fall into Earth’s atmosphere next week, but it leaves a massive archive of data for scientists to explore.

By

Jenna Ahart Jenna Ahart is a science journalist based in Washington DC.

The Swift observatory was designed to observe the brilliant explosions called gamma ray bursts (artist’s illustration) but branched out to study black holes, supernovae and comets. Credit: NASA/Science Photo Library

A lauded NASA space observatory that has made countless discoveries far beyond its assigned portfolio will plummet to a fiery demise in Earth’s atmosphere next week, after a rescue attempt went awry.

Having spent almost 22 years in orbit, NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory has been slowly losing altitude over time, but now it must fully succumb to its doom. In July, a spacecraft blasted off on a mission to boost Swift out of danger . But the rescue mission began to spin uncontrollably before reaching its target.…