NASA's Swift telescope faces final countdown with fiery return to Earth possible Wednesday

THE TAKEAWAY

Astronomers have their eyes glued to the sky this week as NASA’s iconic Neil Gehrels Swift Telescope is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere on Wednesday, nearly 22 years after launch.

The observatory telescope's final viewing came on Oct. 20.

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Swift exceeded expectations on its long journey in space: it was originally designed to last two years, but has significantly surpassed that mark.

The satellite was first launched in 2004 to explore the universe’s most powerful explosions, called gamma-ray bursts.

Now the satellite is returning home, as the Space Force predicts that the roughly 3,200-pound spacecraft will re-enter our atmosphere at around 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, with an uncertainty of an additional plus or minus 11 hours.

According to NASA, most of the spacecraft is expected to burn up as it travels through the atmosphere, but some components are likely to survive reentry.

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Thankfully, the risk of anyone being hurt as a result of this event on Earth is unlikely.

Reentry locations could vary from hemisphere to hemisphere, but ultimately depend on the time it occurs.

Swift has made a long journey that has expanded our knowledge of a wide range of mysteries in our universe, from active galaxies powered by supermassive black holes and stars undergoing X-ray flares, to supernova explosions, comets and asteroids in our own solar system.

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NASA and Space Force will continue to monitor the reentry and provide updates on the event.