NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory has resumed operating two of its three science instruments — the X-ray Telescope and the Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope — even as the spacecraft continues to orbit on a decaying trajectory that will eventually bring it back to Earth's atmosphere.
The observatory restarted science operations after NASA's $30 million commercial rescue mission, conducted by Katalyst Space Technologies, failed in August to boost Swift's orbit. The private mission, which launched in late June from the Marshall Islands, was unable to complete the orbit-raising maneuver needed to counteract the effects of heightened solar activity.
"Without intervention, NASA anticipates Swift is likely to re-enter Earth's atmosphere later this year," the agency said. The telescope's third instrument, the Burst Alert Telescope, remains offline — NASA shut it down in April to conserve propellant during the rescue attempt.
Swift has been observing gamma-ray bursts since 2004 and has detected over 1,700 of the cosmic explosions. Despite its imminent demise, the restart allows scientists to continue gathering data on these transient events during what may be the telescope's final months of operation.
