An update to my Swift reentry post. It’s down.
What happened
Swift reentered on Nov 4 at 6:39 a.m. CT over northern Sumatra, according to satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell, citing US Space Force data, Space.com reports. NASA had expected most of the roughly 3,200-pound observatory to burn up and put the odds of anyone being hurt at 1 in 2,100. Videos on social media appear to show the reentry but haven’t been verified.
It launched in November 2004 on a two-year mission and lasted 22 years. Its PI, Brad Cenko, said Swift could spot a gamma-ray burst and swing its telescopes to it in about a minute.
My take
Well done, Swift. Rest in pieces.
God Bless, and Happy hacking!
