Nasa Swift space telescope reenters Earth's atmosphere over Indonesia
The 1,450-kg observatory ended its 22-year mission after atmospheric drag caused it to lose altitude rapidly.
The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory reentered Earth's atmosphere over the North Sumatra region of Indonesia at approximately 6:09 pm IST on Wednesday, November 4, according to India Today.
The 1,450-kg space telescope lost altitude quickly due to atmospheric drag that was intensified by recent solar activity. While most of the spacecraft was expected to burn up during descent, Nasa noted that some parts may have survived and reached the ground.
Launched in November 2004, the observatory was initially intended for a two-year mission to observe gamma-ray bursts. It operated for nearly 22 years, studying cosmic objects such as comets, exploding stars, and black holes.
Nasa had attempted to rescue the observatory using a commercial spacecraft called Link, developed by Katalyst Space. The mission aimed to attach to Swift and push it into a higher orbit, but the attempt was abandoned after the Link spacecraft faced orientation and communication issues.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman, Nasa's Astrophysics Division director, said the rescue effort was a high-risk, high-reward mission from the start. He added that the attempt provided data and insights for future satellite-servicing missions.
The US Space Force had previously predicted the reentry would occur around 2 pm IST on November 4, though the timing could vary by 11 hours. No injuries were reported during the event.