{
  "id": 4016914,
  "title": "NASA’s Swift Restarts Science Observations",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/nasas-swift-restarts-science-observations",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-28T19:04:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "NASA Science",
    "slug": "nasa-science",
    "url": "https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/swift/2026/08/28/nasas-swift-restarts-science-observations/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory has returned to normal scientific operations after temporarily suspending two of its instruments. This came as a result of a commercial mission scaling back and shifting focus to in-space servicing technologies. The observatory’s Ultraviolet/Optical and X-ray telescopes were reactivated on August 26, 2026. They were previously disabled in February to reduce drag and prolong the satellite’s orbit, helping support a boost effort. The Burst Alert Telescope, which ceased operations in April due to power conservation, is expected to resume data collection in the coming weeks. The X-ray Telescope, responsible for capturing images like Tycho’s supernova remnant, observed a high-density remnant located 13,000 light-years away in Cassiopeia. Over the past two decades, Swift has served as a versatile space telescope, observing various light wavelengths, rapidly responding to transient phenomena, and sending alerts to other space and ground-based facilities to coordinate follow-up observations. Due to increased atmospheric drag caused by recent solar activity, Swift’s altitude began to decrease faster than anticipated in September 2025. This prompted NASA to contract Katalyst Space to attempt a boost using their LINK spacecraft. However, LINK faced issues with its orientation control and will no longer attempt to capture and boost Swift. Instead, it will continue to test in-orbit satellite servicing capabilities. Despite the setback, Swift’s anticipated return to low-drag operations is projected to extend its operational altitude above 185 miles (300 kilometers) until October. Following this, the team expects the observatory to reach this milestone within one to two months, as reported on the Swift blog.",
  "summary": "NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory has resumed operating two of its three science instruments, following the scaling back of a commercial mission that would have boosted Swift to a higher orbital altitude. That mission is now focused on demonstrating rendezvous technologies for in-space servicing. The Swift team turned on the mission’s Ultraviolet/Optical and X-ray telescopes […] The post…",
  "key_points": [
    "Swift Observatory resumes science operations on August 26, 2026",
    "Ultraviolet/Optical and X-ray telescopes reactivated after suspension",
    "Burst Alert Telescope expected to resume data collection soon"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}