By — Marcia Dunn, Associated Press Marcia Dunn, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/a-nasa-space-telescope-plunged-back-to-earth-after-a-mission-that-lasted-11-times-longer-than-planned Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter A NASA space telescope plunged back to Earth after a mission that lasted 11 times longer than planned Science Nov 4, 2026 6:39 PM EST CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — One of NASA's premier space telescopes plunged to Earth on Wednesday, ending its 22-year investigation of the universe's biggest explosions. Grow your mind Subscribe to our Science Newsletter to explore the wide worlds of science, health and technology. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. The Swift Observatory's demise came less than three months after a long-shot rescue mission failed. The U.S. Space Force confirmed Swift's reentry near Indonesia after tracking its sinking orbit, the result of intense solar activity the past few years. NASA hired a private company to whip together an orbit-boosting effort, but Katalyst Space's three-armed robotic craft ran into trouble following its July launch and came…
A NASA space telescope plunged back to Earth after a mission that lasted 11 times longer than planned
In short
The Swift Observatory concluded its 22-year mission observing thousands of cosmic explosions after a September orbit-boosting attempt by private firm Katalyst Space failed. NASA expects some of the 1 ½-ton spacecraft's denser components to have survived atmospheric reentry near Indonesia. Now, the agency is soliciting private sector proposals to avert a similar demise for the Hubble Space Telescope. Hubble faces atmospheric reentry by the mid-2030s unless an intervention successfully boosts or services it by 2032.
Key points
- Heightened solar activity poses a significant operational threat by degrading the orbits…: Heightened solar activity poses a significant operational threat by degrading the orbits of critical space observatories.
- Swift vastly exceeded expectations by operating 11 times past its original two-year missi…: Swift vastly exceeded expectations by operating 11 times past its original two-year mission to track cosmic explosions.
- NASA requires private sector intervention by 2032 to boost, upgrade, or safely deorbit th…: NASA requires private sector intervention by 2032 to boost, upgrade, or safely deorbit the Hubble Space Telescope.