The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory

The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory

Swift satellite artists conception Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most powerful explosions the Universe has seen since the Big Bang. They occur approximately once per day and are brief, but intense, flashes of gamma radiation. They come from all different directions of the sky and last from a few milliseconds to a few hundred seconds. So far scientists do not know what causes them. Do they signal the birth of a black hole in a massive stellar explosion? Are they the product of the collision of two neutron stars? Or is it some other exotic phenomenon that causes these bursts?

With Swift, a NASA mission with international participation, scientists have a tool dedicated to answering these questions and solving the gamma-ray burst mystery. Its three instruments give scientists the ability to scrutinize gamma-ray bursts like never before. Within seconds of detecting a burst, Swift relays its location to ground stations, allowing both ground-based and space-based telescopes around the world the opportunity to observe the burst's afterglow. Swift is part of NASA's medium explorer (MIDEX) program and was launched into a low-Earth orbit on a Delta 7320 rocket on November 20, 2004. The Principal Investigator is Dr. Brad Cenko (NASA-GSFC).

NASA's Swift Sees 'Wandering' Mega Black Hole Shredding Star
NASA's Swift Sees 'Wandering' Mega Black Hole Shredding Star
This artist's concept depicts a tidal disruption event, which occurs when a star passes fatally close to a supermassive black hole. Crumbs of the splintering star heat up as they swirl around the black hole, creating a glow astronomers can see from far across the cosmos, and the black hole launches a relativistic jet into space. (NRAO/AUI/NSF/NASA)

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Swift's 20th Anniversary
Swift's 20th Anniversary

Latest Swift News

Oct 23, 2026

NASA's Swift Mission Ends, Leaves Behind Scientific Bonanza

NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory has ended its science mission now that the spacecraft is orbiting less than 171 miles (275 kilometers) above Earth's surface. The greater atmospheric drag at this height prevents the satellite's telescopes from steadily gazing at their astronomical targets.The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory has completed its mission, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking discoveries in the field of high-energy astrophysics.
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Aug 28, 2026

NASA's Swift Restarts Science Observations

NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory has resumed operating two of its three science instruments, following the scaling back of a commercial mission that would have boosted Swift to a higher orbital altitude. That mission is now focused on demonstrating rendezvous technologies for in-space servicing.
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Aug 19, 2026

NASA Updates Next Steps for Commercial Swift Boost Mission

Due to an ongoing commercial spacecraft attitude control issue, NASA and Katalyst Space announced Wednesday the LINK spacecraft will not capture or boost an agency satellite to a higher altitude to extend its science mission as planned.
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