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NASA's Swift spacecraft is on the verge of plunging back to Earth
MSN ^ | 10/31/2026 | Brittney Donovan

Posted on 10/31/2026 5:07:04 PM PDT by BenLurkin

NASA’s Swift Observatory is expected to plunge back to Earth next week after a failed rescue effort left the aging telescope drifting progressively lower.

The U.S. Space Force predicts the telescope will come crashing down on or around Friday.

Most of the 1 ½-ton telescope should incinerate upon descent, though dense tungsten components and mirror elements could survive reentry, according to NASA's Brad Cenko, the mission’s chief scientist.

Any surviving wreckage will likely plunge into the ocean, but portions of Africa, Australia, India, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America remain inside the reentry zone. The Space Force continues to monitor the craft's trajectory.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy
KEYWORDS: astronomy; nasa; swift
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1 posted on 10/31/2026 5:07:04 PM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

Corrected: The Space Force and its legal staff continues to monitor the craft’s trajectory.


2 posted on 10/31/2026 5:30:40 PM PDT by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. )
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To: BenLurkin

Soon:
The smoldering spacecraft hit a spot in Area 51 and caused a huge blowback of earth and debris which revealed a formerly buried extraterrestrial vehicle and corpses in a crater.
The US Government said it was a weather balloon.

Steve McQueen in the first Blob.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOG6cnSWs2g&t=33s

Director wanted to call it The Glob but a comic strip had trade marked that name.


3 posted on 10/31/2026 5:38:22 PM PDT by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. )
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To: BenLurkin

Soon:
The smoldering spacecraft hit a spot in Area 51 and caused a huge blowback of earth and debris which revealed a formerly buried extraterrestrial vehicle and corpses in a crater.
The US Government said it was a weather balloon.

Steve McQueen in the first Blob.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOG6cnSWs2g&t=33s

Director wanted to call it The Glob but a comic strip had trade marked that name.


4 posted on 10/31/2026 5:38:31 PM PDT by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. )
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; BraveMan; cardinal4; ...
🚀🛰️

5 posted on 10/31/2026 6:13:49 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills and jihadists anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: frank ballenger; SunkenCiv; SaveFerris; Ezekiel
"Flaming globs of Sigmund!"


6 posted on 10/31/2026 6:18:24 PM PDT by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait.)
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