India, Nov. 6 -- NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, which spent nearly 22 years observing space, has ended its mission after a failed attempt to save the ageing spacecraft. Launched in 2004, the telescope was originally designed to operate for just two years but continued sending back observations long beyond its expected lifespan. It has now re-entered Earth's atmosphere, bringing its remarkable run to a close.

According to NASA, the US Space Force confirmed that the 3,200-pound spacecraft re-entered Earth's atmosphere at 7.39 am EST on Wednesday over North Sumatra, Indonesia.

NASA had warned that most of the spacecraft would burn up as it passed through the atmosphere, although some parts could survive and reach the ground. The ag...