The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is a NASA observatory designed to solve essential questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics. TIP NASA’s Swift telescope is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere on Wednesday. NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory last conducted observations on October 20, after 22 years of service. Most of the spacecraft is expected to burn up as it travels through the atmosphere, but some components are likely to survive re-entry. It will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere on Wednesday, almost 22 years after its launch. The last view of the observatory’s telescope occurred on October 20. END OF AN ERA, AS NASA TELESCOPE THAT DETECTED THOUSANDS OF GAMMA RAY EXPLOSIONS NEARS ITS LAST DAYS Swift has exceeded expectations on its long journey in space: it was originally designed to last two years, but it has significantly surpassed that mark. The satellite was first launched in 2004 to explore the universe. more powerful explosions, called gamma ray bursts. The completed Swift spacecraft is seen in a clean room at NASA Goddard on September 9, 2003. (NASA/NASA) Now the satellite is heading home, as the Space Force predicts the roughly 3,200-pound spacecraft will re-enter our atmosphere around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, with an uncertainty of plus or minus 11 additional hours. According to NASA, most of the spacecraft is expected to burn up as it travels through the atmosphere. but some components are likely to survive re-entry. HAVE YOU SEEN THESE STRANGE LIGHTS IN THE SKY? NASA WANTS YOUR PHOTOS TO HELP SCIENTISTS Fortunately, the risk of anyone being hurt as a result of this event on Earth is unlikely. NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory orbits Earth in this artist’s concept. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Imaging Laboratory/NASA) Reentry locations can vary from hemisphere to hemisphere, but ultimately depend on when it occurs. Swift has been on a long journey that has expanded our knowledge of a wide range of mysteries in our universe, from active galaxies powered by supermassive black holes and stars undergoing X-ray flares, to supernova explosions, comets and asteroids in our own solar system. MASSIVE DWARF PLANET LURKING IN THE OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM NASA and the Space Force will continue to monitor the re-entry and provide updates on the event.
