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NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory concluded its science mission on October 20, 2026 after more than two decades of studying gamma-ray bursts and other high-energy cosmic phenomena. The spacecraft has descended to an altitude of less than 171 miles above Earth's surface, where greater atmospheric drag prevents its telescopes from steadily observing astronomical targets. Swift conducted its final observation on October 20, leaving behind a significant scientific legacy that has advanced understanding of some of the universe's most energetic events.