NASA space telescope plunges to Earth after two decades studying cosmic explosions

NASA's Swift space telescope fell to Earth after 22 years of studying cosmic explosions. The telescope reentered the atmosphere near Indonesia after a failed rescue mission, and NASA hired a private company to attempt an orbit-boosting effort. The spacecraft, which was expected to last two years, was not fully recovered, and some of its components may have survived the reentry. The mission, which started in 2004, lasted 11 times longer than planned and served as a first responder for other telescopes.

• The Swift telescope was launched in 2004 and studied gamma-ray bursts and exploding stars.
• NASA is considering rescue missions for the Hubble Space Telescope, which is expected to reenter by the mid-2030s.
• The space agency has more time to explore options for saving Hubble compared to Swift.
• Hubble's reentry would need to happen by 2032, and the agency is looking for industry input on how to handle its reentry.

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