After 22 years in space, studying some of the most spectacular phenomena of the Universe, NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift space observatory is approaching the end of its historic mission.
Its re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere is expected on November 4, while the U.S. Space Force and the Space Corporation are continuously monitoring its trajectory to determine the moment of descent as precisely as possible.
Initially designed for a lifespan of only two years, the Swift observatory managed to operate for more than two decades, contributing to important discoveries for modern astronomy.
According to published estimates, re-entry into the atmosphere is predicted to occur on November 4, between 09:30 and 10:15 Greek time, although the forecast carries a considerable margin of uncertainty.
During its passage through the atmosphere, most of the satellite’s structure is expected to burn up due to extreme temperatures. However, some more resistant components may survive re-entry and reach the Earth’s surface.
Due to its orbit, the possible debris fall zone is limited to regions between 20.6 degrees north latitude and 20.6 degrees south latitude, including the tropical zone of the planet.
Among the areas included in this band are Hawaii and Puerto Rico. However, the probability that debris will hit a person is estimated to be extremely low, about one in 2,100.
