News by Levels · Level 2 · Student worksheet

Swift Finishes Its Long Science Mission

Name: __________________________ Date: __________________

Read the story

NASA announced that Swift’s science mission had ended, with its final observation on October 20. Greater atmospheric drag in its low orbit prevents stable telescope pointing.

The spacecraft is expected to re-enter the atmosphere in coming weeks. Nearly 22 years of archived observations remain available for research.

Source: NASA, 2026-10-23. https://science.nasa.gov/missions/swift/nasas-swift-mission-ends/

Read and practise

1. What prevents steady telescope pointing?

   1. A temporary instrument-upgrade programme
   2. A planned flight to a higher orbit
   3. Greater atmospheric drag

2. Which part is still a future expectation?

   1. Atmospheric re-entry
   2. The October20 observation
   3. The announcement of the mission’s end

Your turn

Separate the final observation from the expected re-entry.

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Read online: https://newsbylevels.com/news/nasa-swift-science-mission-ends-october-2026/level-2/