An out-of-control NASA telescope is about to fall to Earth

 NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is set to crash back to Earth, following a failed rescue attempt that could not correct its orbit. The U.S. Space Force anticipates that the bulk of the 1.5-ton spacecraft will disintegrate upon atmospheric reentry, the AP reported on Sunday.

However, certain components made of tungsten, a metal denser than lead, as well as fragments of its mirrors, could potentially reach the surface. Current estimates suggest that the debris will most likely fall into the ocean next Friday or thereabouts.

 Swift was launched on November 20, 2004, to study gamma-ray bursts and supernovae—some of the most energetic explosions in the universe. However, intense solar activity in recent years caused the observatory to lose altitude faster than usual.

A mission to rescue it was canceled last August, after the spacecraft "LINK", launched a month earlier with the goal of raising the observatory's orbit, encountered technical failures that could not be fixed. LINK only managed to get within 12 to 15 kilometers of the telescope.

 By late October, Swift was at an altitude too low to remain stable during observations, so its systems were shut down.