A telescope built to chase cosmic explosions. Launched on November 20, 2004, Swift was designed primarily to detect gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), brief but extraordinarily energetic flashes associated with some of the most powerful events in the universe. These bursts can last from fractions of a second to several minutes. Their fleeting nature makes them hard to study. Astronomers must locate them quickly and turn other telescopes toward the source before the light fades. Swift was built to do exactly that. Its Burst Alert Telescope detects gamma-ray bursts and determines their positions, allowing the spacecraft to rapidly turn its X-ray and ultraviolet/optical telescopes toward the event. NASA says the observatory could typically redirect its instruments within about a minute. That rapid-response capability helped transform the study of gamma-ray bursts and made Swift a valuable tool for time-domain astronomy, which examines how astronomical objects change over time. Over its lifetime, the spacecraft observed more than 2,000 gamma-ray bursts and studied over 1,400 supernova explosions. It also monitored active galaxies powered by supermassive black holes, observed stars being torn apart by black holes, and studied comets and asteroids. One notable observation came in 2022, when Swift helped investigate GRB 221009A, nicknamed the BOAT (Brightest Of All Time). The extraordinary burst of radiation became one of the brightest gamma-ray events ever detected. An attempted rescue couldn't save the observatory. Swift's descent accelerated due to increased solar activity. When the Sun becomes more active, it heats Earth's upper atmosphere, causing it to expand. That increases atmospheric drag on satellites in low Earth orbit, gradually slowing them down and reducing their altitude. NASA attempted to extend Swift's life through an unusual servicing mission. The agency contracted Arizona-based Katalyst Space Technologies to develop a robotic spacecraft called LINK, designed to rendezvous with Swift, capture it, and raise its orbit. LINK launched on July 3, 2026, aboard Northrop Grumman's Pegasus XL rocket. However, an attitude-control problem prevented the spacecraft from capturing or boosting Swift. NASA announced in August that the orbit-raising attempt would not proceed, although LINK would continue demonstrating rendezvous and proximity-operation capabilities. With Swift continuing to lose altitude, its science operations eventually became unsustainable. NASA ended the mission after the spacecraft entered safe mode on October 20. A 12-terabyte scientific legacy. Although Swift is about to disappear from orbit, its observations will remain accessible to researchers. NASA says the mission has produced approximately 12 terabytes of data, including nearly 22 years of brightness measurements, multiwavelength spectra, and more than 1.5 million images from its Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope. The archive has already contributed to approximately 7,000 scientific papers. Its value could continue growing as astronomers revisit older observations, combine them with newer measurements, and apply improved analytical techniques. NASA's Swift archive makes the mission's observations publicly accessible, allowing researchers around the world to explore its data. Swift's departure will nevertheless leave a gap. NASA is exploring ways to maintain rapid-response observations of cosmic events using existing space telescopes and potentially new commercial capabilities. For a spacecraft that spent more than two decades chasing some of the universe's briefest and most energetic flashes, its final chapter is fittingly unusual. Swift may soon burn up in Earth's atmosphere, but the cosmic events it captured will remain available for astronomers to study long after its last signal is gone. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox. You may unsubscribe at any time. Kaif Shaikh is a journalist and writer passionate about turning complex information into clear, impactful stories. His writing covers technology, sustainability, geopolitics, and occasionally fiction. A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, his work has appeared in the Times of India and beyond. After a near-fatal experience, Kaif began seeing both stories and silences differently. Outside work, he juggles far too many projects and passions, but always makes time to read, reflect, and hold onto the thread of wonder.

Pentagon bets on space-based Solar Power as U.S. Military advances Solar Power technology. The U.S. military is investing in new solar power technology designed to beam energy from space. The Pentagon is increasing its investment in space-based solar power as the U.S. military explores new ways to generate and deliver electricity to remote and operational locations. Recent contracts are supporting demonstrations of technologies designed to collect solar energy in space and transmit it to Earth, marking another step in the development of orbital energy systems. The effort is being supported through the Pentagon's Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund (OECIF), a program focused on advancing and demonstrating emerging energy technologies for military applications. Space-based power beaming is now included among the technologies being developed under its combat power portfolio. Recent projects involve two different approaches to solar power technology. Overview Energy is developing a system that would transmit energy using near-infrared light, while Katalyst Space is working with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory on a microwave-based system. Pentagon funds new space-based Solar Power demonstrations. The latest development came in September when Virginia-based Overview Energy announced that it had received an OECIF contract to develop a homing beacon for its space solar energy system. The beacon is designed to help satellites identify and establish a connection with designated receiving sites on Earth. Overview's system would collect sunlight in orbit and convert the energy into a near-infrared beam that could be directed toward terrestrial infrastructure. According to Breaking Defense, the beacon is intended to provide precise targeting and authentication before a satellite transmits power. The company expects to demonstrate the technology in the coming period, although the Pentagon has not publicly disclosed the value of the contract. The contract follows an earlier Air Force study involving Overview Energy. That work examined potential applications for space-based solar power in environments where traditional energy logistics could be constrained or vulnerable. Katalyst Space takes a different approach. Katalyst Space is pursuing another path under the Pentagon's energy investment program. The company was selected for the Advanced Scalable Growth Architecture for Robotic Deployment, or ASGARD, program. Under the project, Katalyst plans to develop and launch a robotic spacecraft capable of assembling a large power-beaming structure while in orbit. The spacecraft would use robotic arms to connect modular components developed with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. The system is designed to collect solar energy and convert it into radio-frequency microwave energy. The microwave signal would then be transmitted toward Earth, where receiving equipment could convert the energy into usable electricity. Katalyst announced the OECIF contract on September 21, describing the project as a demonstration of on-orbit assembly and power transmission. The company said the system is intended to provide a scalable approach because large power-beaming structures could exceed the size limitations of individual launch vehicles. How Solar Power from space works. The basic principle behind solar power from space involves placing photovoltaic equipment in orbit where it can collect sunlight and then converting that energy into a form that can be transmitted wirelessly. The Air Force Research Laboratory has been developing related technology through its Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstrations and Research, or SSPIDR, project. AFRL's system uses photovoltaic cells to collect solar energy, converts that energy into radio-frequency power and beams it toward a receiving antenna on the ground. The receiving antenna, known as a rectenna, converts the radio-frequency energy back into usable electricity. AFRL identifies several technical areas that need to be developed for an operational system, including energy generation, thermal management, deployable structures, RF beaming, distributed control and beam-forming technology. The technology is being developed as a series of demonstrations rather than as a single immediate deployment. This allows researchers to test individual components before attempting to integrate them into a larger orbital power system. Why the U.S. Military is exploring space-based energy. The U.S. military has a particular interest in reliable power for remote and forward operating locations. Military installations can require electricity for communications, sensors, computing systems, surveillance equipment and other operations. Traditional power supplies in remote areas can depend on fuel deliveries and terrestrial infrastructure. Those supply routes can require vehicles, aircraft or ships, creating additional logistical requirements. AFRL has identified fuel convoys and supply lines as a significant challenge for forward operations. Its space power research is intended to investigate whether energy could instead be delivered through an orbital system and accessed through a receiving antenna on the ground. Space-based systems could also operate independently of some terrestrial infrastructure. A receiving station could potentially be established at a location where expanding conventional electrical infrastructure would be difficult. Microwave and near-infrared technologies. The Pentagon's current projects illustrate two different methods of transmitting energy. Katalyst Space is developing microwave power transmission based on technology from the Naval Research Laboratory. Its planned orbital system would use modular tiles to collect solar energy and convert it into radio-frequency microwave energy. Overview Energy is pursuing near-infrared transmission. Its satellites are designed to collect solar energy and convert it into a near-infrared beam directed toward an authenticated receiving location. Both approaches require accurate targeting and specialized ground infrastructure. The receiving system must be positioned correctly so that the transmitted energy can be captured and converted into electricity. The different approaches also demonstrate that solar power technology in space is still undergoing development. Researchers and companies are testing multiple technical pathways rather than relying on one established architecture. Large orbital structures remain a challenge. Building a large-scale space solar system presents engineering challenges that do not exist for conventional solar farms on Earth. A large orbital power station would require extensive photovoltaic surfaces, power-conversion equipment, transmission hardware and supporting structures. Launching all of that equipment in a single spacecraft would not be practical for very large systems, which is why programs such as ASGARD are investigating robotic assembly in orbit. The components would also have to operate in the harsh space environment. Radiation, extreme temperature changes and long-term exposure to space can affect photovoltaic cells and electronic systems. Transmission efficiency is another important consideration. A practical system would need to collect and convert substantial amounts of sunlight while delivering enough usable energy to the receiving location to justify the complexity of the orbital infrastructure. U.S. Investment in space photovoltaics expands. Interest in space-based solar power is not limited to the Pentagon. The U.S. Department of Energy announced a $12 million funding opportunity in August 2026 aimed at advancing space photovoltaic technology and expanding domestic manufacturing capabilities. The DOE initiative focuses on improving solar panels designed for space applications and supporting the development of next-generation photovoltaic systems. The department said the investment is intended to accelerate technical innovation and strengthen U.S. capabilities in space-based photovoltaic manufacturing. The additional government funding provides a broader research base for technologies that could eventually support orbital energy systems. Improvements in photovoltaic efficiency, manufacturing and durability could affect both military and commercial space applications. Pentagon Space Solar Power efforts move into testing. The Pentagon's latest contracts are focused on demonstrating specific technologies required for space-based solar power, rather than deploying a full-scale orbital power network. Overview Energy is working on the targeting and authentication technology needed to direct near-infrared energy to receiving sites. Katalyst Space is developing robotic on-orbit assembly and microwave power transmission with the Naval Research Laboratory. At the same time, AFRL continues research into photovoltaic collection, RF transmission, deployable structures and other components. These projects place greater emphasis on testing individual systems in realistic operating conditions. The results will determine how effectively different solar power technology approaches can collect energy in space, transmit it over long distances and deliver usable electricity to Earth. For the U.S. military, the immediate focus remains on developing reliable power options for locations where conventional energy logistics can be difficult. As demonstrations progress, space-based solar power will continue to be evaluated alongside other emerging energy technologies being developed for military operations.