NASA said on the 2nd that the agency's Neil Grayles Swift Observatory has completed nearly 22 years of scientific observation missions and is expected to return to Earth's atmosphere on the 4th. The “Swift” observatory was launched in 2004. Its main mission is to observe gamma-ray bursts in the universe. The main mission period was initially designed for 2 years, and it has now been in service for nearly 22 years. As the orbital altitude of the “Swift” observatory continues to drop, and attempts to increase its orbital altitude and extend its operating life have failed, the observatory is about to return to the Earth's atmosphere.

NASA said on the 2nd that the agency's Neil Grayles Swift Observatory has completed nearly 22 years of scientific observation missions and is expected to return to Earth's atmosphere on the 4th. The “Swift” observatory was launched in 2004. Its main mission is to observe gamma-ray bursts in the universe. The main mission period was initially designed for 2 years, and it has now been in service for nearly 22 years. As the orbital altitude of the “Swift” observatory continues to drop, and attempts to increase its orbital altitude and extend its operating life have failed, the observatory is about to return to the Earth's atmosphere.