NASA Restores Swift Telescopes, But Orbit Decay Threatens Mission

NASA has successfully brought two of the Swift observatory’s telescopes back online after technical issues derailed a commercial rescue mission that aimed to lift the aging spacecraft to a higher orbit. The Swift satellite, designed to study high‑energy phenomena, has been experiencing faster‑than‑expected atmospheric drag, pulling it down toward Earth. Scientists now estimate that Swift could fall below its critical operating altitude within the next month or two. If the orbit decays further, the observatory will lose its ability to function, effectively ending its scientific operations.