NASA's Asteroid-Hunting Telescope Faces Imminent Earthbound Fate
TL;DR Summary
NASA's NEOWISE (Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) telescope, which has been instrumental in surveying near-Earth objects and detecting potential threats, is nearing its end as increased solar activity is causing it to gradually fall out of orbit. The Sun's heating of Earth's atmosphere is leading to increased atmospheric drag, pulling the telescope lower in Earth's atmosphere. NEOWISE is expected to become unusable in early 2025 and will eventually burn up in Earth's atmosphere. Despite its impending demise, the valuable data gathered by NEOWISE will continue to contribute to advancements in the study of the infrared universe.
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- As an Asteroid-Hunting Mission Approaches Its End, What's Next? Sky & Telescope
- NASA’s asteroid-hunting space probe to come crashing back to Earth Dazed
- NASA Satellite Falling Out of Orbit The Dallas Express
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