NASA ends Swift space telescope mission after more than 20 years

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration officially ended science operations for the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory on October 20, Live Science reported. According to Live Science, Technology Org, and Udaipur Kiran, the spacecraft concluded its mission after tracking high-energy cosmic events for more than 20 years. [1][2][3]

Live Science reported that operators shut down the telescope because the observatory descended too low in its orbit around Earth to gather reliable scientific data. The spacecraft is expected to experience an uncontrolled entry into Earth atmosphere within the next few weeks, according to Live Science. [1]

The observatory tracked gamma-ray bursts, which are the most energetic explosions in the universe since the Big Bang, Live Science reported. Earlier in 2026, Katalyst Space Technologies launched a spacecraft called LINK on July 3 in an attempt to boost the orbit of the observatory and extend its operational lifespan. That robotic servicing mission ended on September 25, 2026, when the LINK spacecraft reentered the atmosphere. [1][4]

According to Live Science, the spacecraft will continue to drop in altitude in the coming weeks until it passes a point of no return and undergoes a destructive atmospheric reentry. [1]