'Sad day' for astronomers as Nasa telescope set to crash back to Earth
NASA's Swift Observatory is expected to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere after a failed rescue mission to extend its orbit. Astronomers express concern over the loss of the valuable tool and the environmental impact of increasing satellite re-entries.
Why it matters
The accumulation of space debris and the atmospheric impact of burning satellites present growing challenges for space exploration and environmental science.
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An Otago based astronomer says it's a sad day as a half-a-billion-dollar satellite looks set to crash back to Earth.
At some point on Wednesday Nasa's Swift Observatory is expected to burn up somewhere over the Pacific Ocean after an attempt to save it failed.
It was launched in 2004 to study black holes and exploding stars.
But ever since then its orbit has been slowly dropping, and in 2025 a last-ditch rescue to push it back up didn't work .
Otago Museum director and astronomer Ian Griffin says the satellite's work was remarkable.
Otago Museum director and astronomer Ian Griffin told Morning Report the satellite was one of the best tools they had.
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