NASA's Swift Observatory Begins Its Final Descent Toward Reentry

NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, in space for 21 years, is on track to reenter Earth's atmosphere. After a failed attempt to rescue the aging satellite with the LINK probe, Swift's telescopes are being revived for a last round of observations as atmospheric drag increases, with the Burst Alert Telescope still powered down. Over its mission, Swift has monitored gamma-ray bursts, supernovas, and black holes across multiple wavelengths; engineers aim to maximize data collection during the final descent, which could occur by the end of the year as the satellite burns up.