NASA space telescope Swift burns up during atmospheric reentry over Sumatra
The 22-year-old Swift space observatory has reentered Earth's atmosphere over Sumatra following the end of its science mission.
FTMQ Science, written by our newsroom0 views
The retired Swift space telescope operated by NASA has burned up in the atmosphere over Sumatra, Live Science and Reuters both reported. The atmospheric reentry marks the final conclusion for the 22-year-old space observatory. [1][2]
As FTMQ Science reported earlier, NASA officially ended science operations for the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory on October 20. The spacecraft was shut down after its orbit decayed to an altitude that was too low to allow reliable scientific measurements. The observatory spent more than two decades tracking high-energy cosmic explosions from low Earth orbit. [8]
The disintegration of the spacecraft during reentry brings an end to what Live Science described as an era for rapid-response space science. NASA operates robotic missions to study the solar system and astrophysics, according to Grokipedia. [1][7]
In short
- NASA's 22-year-old Swift space telescope burned up in the atmosphere over Sumatra.
- Science operations for the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory officially ended on October 20.
- The observatory was decommissioned after orbital decay made reliable scientific measurements impossible.
Sources
Every paragraph above points to the numbered items it rests on. Read the originals here.
- [1]Swift has fallen: NASA's 22-year-old space telescope burns up over SumatraLive Science, 4h ago (the report this story comes from)
- [2]NASA's 22-year-old Swift satellite telescope falls from orbit in fiery finaleReuters, 3h ago
Background
- [3]Budget of NASA on Wikipedia
- [4]Space Shuttle on Wikipedia
- [5]Mason & Dixon on Wikipedia
- [6]Swift on Grokipedia
- [7]NASA on Grokipedia
- [8]NASA ends Swift space telescope mission after more than 20 years FTMQ Science, 9d ago
Our newsroom writes these reports with the help of software, from the 8 sources listed and nothing else, and checks them against those sources. Facts can still be wrong or move on; the originals are the record. Spotted a mistake? Write to daniel@monsterkong.com.
Related from FTMQ Science
Earlier reports of ours on the same people and subjects.
- NASA ends Swift space telescope mission after more than 20 yearsTop Stories, 9d ago
- NASA satellites capture atmospheric gravity waves created high above Hurricane SimonEarth Science, 19d ago
- James Webb Telescope Detects Concentration of Heavy Metals Near Central Black HoleTop Stories, 14d ago
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