Launch Catch-Up — Final Observation October 20; NASA Report October 23
NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory has ended its science mission, the agency reported October 23, after nearly 22 years studying a changing universe.
Swift conducted its final observation October 20. NASA said its orbit had fallen below 171 miles, or 275 kilometers, where atmospheric drag prevented the telescopes from pointing steadily at astronomical targets.
The agency expected atmospheric reentry within weeks of its announcement. It did not provide a confirmed reentry date in that report.
Launched November 20, 2004, Swift was designed for a two-year primary mission. Its rapid-response observations helped astronomers locate short-lived gamma-ray bursts and study their fading afterglows before they disappeared.
NASA says Swift observed more than 2,000 gamma-ray bursts and more than 1,400 supernovae. Its data contributed to roughly 7,000 scientific papers.
The science mission’s end leaves a publicly available archive of observations for further research. NASA said it is examining ways to preserve rapid-response astronomy using existing telescopes and potential future capabilities.
Sources: NASA — October 23 Swift mission report, rechecked October 26: https://science.nasa.gov/missions/swift/nasas-swift-mission-ends/