NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere in the early hours of November 4, according to predictions from the US Armed Forces. The forecast puts the event at around 3:30 a.m. Eastern time, but the timing could vary by as much as 11 hours. The 3,200-pound observatory launched 22 years ago and is now returning after an effort to save it was abandoned.
NASA began its Swift Boost mission in early July to try to raise the observatory’s rapidly declining orbit and extend its work. The plan called for Katalyst Space’s LINK robotic spacecraft to dock with Swift and pull it into a higher orbit. However, LINK experienced attitude-control problems that left it unable to orient itself, causing it to spin and disrupting communications. NASA subsequently ended the rescue attempt.
The agency stopped Swift’s operations in late October after the observatory entered safe mode and began preparations for re-entry. During its mission, it detected more than 2,000 gamma-ray bursts and collected data on 1,400 supernovae, along with asteroids, comets, stars disrupted by black holes and other cosmic activity.
NASA expects most of the spacecraft to burn up during re-entry, though some components could reach the ground. The agency says the risk of debris harming anyone is very low. NASA and the US Armed Forces are monitoring the observatory’s descent and may revise their predictions.
Sources: Engadget.