NASA telescope is on the verge of plunging back to Earth after failed rescue mission

NASA's Swift Observatory, an aging telescope, is on the brink of re-entering Earth's atmosphere after a failed rescue mission, according to the U.S. Space Force. Most of the 1.5-ton telescope is expected to burn up in the atmosphere, but some pieces may survive re-entry, potentially falling into the ocean. Africa, Australia, India, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America are within the re-entry zone.

The telescope, launched in 2004, made over 2,000 gamma ray bursts and 1,400 exploding star observations during its 22 years in orbit. Its replacement is still being sought, as scientists hope to apply Swift's lessons learned to future missions.