Earth's atmosphere

When NASA's Swift Observatory falls, a celestial chapter meets its earthly end

Tomorrow, a luminous chapter in the sky draws to a close. NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere, most of it burning up in a final, fiery arc. While the odds of surviving debris causing harm are exceedingly slim, the end of this celestial sentinel feels quietly monumental. For a deeper exploration of enduring design, our piece on OM System executives reflecting on sensor sizes offers a fittingly curated companion.