Swift operations end: 2004 spacecraft headed for fiery reentry

NASA's Swift observatory made its final observation on October 20 and is expected to re-enter the atmosphere in the next few weeks after a failed rescue attempt over the summer.

Designed to study gamma-ray bursts, Swift was launched on November 20, 2004, on a two-year mission. It has lasted almost 22 years, but atmospheric drag is inexorably lowering the spacecraft's orbit, so reentry is likely just shy of the vehicle's 22nd anniversary. Swift has no propulsion system to save itself.

Swift is now orbiting at an altitude of less than 171 miles above Earth's surface, meaning it cannot keep its telescopes steady when pointing at astronomical targets.

Because the spacecraft could no longer compensate for the increased drag, it dropped into safe mode. A command was then sent from the ground that, according to NASA, "effectively ended Swift operations to prepare it for re-entry."

The descent of Swift has accelerated in recent years due to increased solar activity. …