The rescue operation was unsuccessful, and pieces of one of NASA's space telescopes could fall in a week.

The Swift space telescope, launched in 2004, is set to re-enter Earth's atmosphere after a failed $30 million rescue mission. Although most of its components will burn up, some parts may reach the surface. Experts predict debris will likely fall into the ocean, but the re-entry zone includes regions over Africa, Australia, India, Southeast Asia, and parts of Central and South America. The telescope has contributed significantly to astronomical research over its 22 years of operation, studying gamma-ray bursts and supernovae. The rescue attempt involved a robotic spacecraft from Catalyst Space, which ultimately failed, leading to the telescope's operational shutdown.