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NASA's Swift telescope expected to fall to Earth after failed rescue

Associated Press reports the 1.5-ton Swift Observatory is expected to reenter around Friday, with most debris burning up but some tungsten and mirror parts possibly surviving.

Published Oct 31, 2026 · 20:37 UTC3 reports

The short version

  • Associated Press reports the U.S. Space Force predicts NASA's Swift Observatory will reenter Earth on or around Friday.[Associated Press]
  • Most of the roughly 1.5-ton telescope is expected to burn up, but some tungsten and mirror pieces could survive, according to NASA's mission chief scientist Brad Cenko.[Associated Press]
  • NASA hired Katalyst Space a year ago for a rush rescue, but its robot Link never got closer than 7 to 9 miles and plunged back to Earth in September.[Associated Press]

Key facts

  • The U.S. Space Force predicts the 1.5-ton Swift Observatory will reenter Earth's atmosphere on or around Friday.[Associated Press]
  • Most of the telescope is expected to burn up during atmospheric reentry.[Associated Press]
  • NASA chief scientist Brad Cenko, who serves as the mission's chief scientist, said a handful of denser-than-lead tungsten pieces and some mirror parts could survive reentry.[Associated Press]
  • NASA hired Katalyst Space a year ago to mount a rush rescue of the telescope.[Associated Press]
  • Katalyst Space's three-armed robot Link ran into trouble after launching in July and got no closer than 7 to 9 miles to the telescope.[Associated Press]
  • Link plunged back to Earth in September.[Associated Press]

What remains uncertain

  • It is unclear whether any debris survives reentry, since the surviving pieces are described as possible rather than confirmed.[Associated Press]
  • The reentry timing is a prediction of 'on or around Friday' from the U.S. Space Force, not a confirmed time or location.[Associated Press]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.