ScienceBreakingUpdated 2 hr ago

NASA ends science mission of Swift Observatory as the satellite nears re-entry

Coverage spectrum

Covered by 3 outlets, mostly center (67%).

3 articles in total. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Image via Scripps NewsHow images are chosen Report this image

NASA says its Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, launched in 2004, has ended its science mission because its low orbit and increasing atmospheric drag prevent steady observations. The telescope, about 171 miles above Earth, is expected to re-enter the atmosphere in the coming weeks. The U.S. Space Force predicts re-entry around Friday. Most of the roughly 1.5-ton spacecraft is expected to burn up, but tungsten parts and mirror pieces could survive, most likely falling into the ocean. Parts of Africa, Australia, India, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America lie within the possible re-entry zone. The Associated Press report says an earlier rescue effort had failed.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

New to Mantle? It shows who is covering each story across the political spectrum, and highlights loaded words. How to read a storyHide the guide

The coverage spectrum counts the outlets covering a story at each of five points. A short or missing segment means that part of the spectrum is mostly quiet.

Governor Loaded verb“slams”It adds drama to what was said. The governor criticized the lawmakers; “slams” makes it sound like a fight.More neutral: criticizes lawmakers over budget delay

Highlights mark words that carry a judgement. Tap one to see why, and what a neutral writer would say. Here it is “criticizes”.

The 5-point spectrum

Far Left
Voices that strongly advocate for progressive policies and systemic change.
Left
Mainstream liberal perspectives focusing on social equality and regulation.
Center
Sources that prioritize neutral reporting and balanced viewpoints.
Right
Mainstream conservative perspectives focusing on market freedom and tradition.
Far Right
Voices that strongly advocate for conservative values and limited government.

How we measure bias

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

NASA says the Swift Observatory has ended its science mission and is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere.
Reported byFar Left1Center2See the outletsHide the outlets
Far Left
The Boston Globe
Center
Scripps News, Newsweek
The U.S. Space Force predicts the telescope will re-enter around Friday.
Reported byFar Left1Center1See the outletsHide the outlets
Far Left
The Boston Globe
Center
Newsweek
Most of the telescope is expected to burn up, but tungsten parts and mirror pieces could survive and most likely fall into the ocean.
Reported byFar Left1Center1See the outletsHide the outlets
Far Left
The Boston Globe
Center
Newsweek
Parts of Africa, Australia, India, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America lie within the possible re-entry zone.
Reported byFar Left1Center1See the outletsHide the outlets
Far Left
The Boston Globe
Center
Newsweek
The telescope, launched in 2004, spent more than 20 years in orbit studying gamma-ray bursts and supernovas.
Reported byFar Left1Center2See the outletsHide the outlets
Far Left
The Boston Globe
Center
Scripps News, Newsweek

How each side tells it

Compare views

All three outlets report that NASA's Swift Observatory has ended its science mission and is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere. The Globe, on an AP report, stresses a failed rescue, while the center outlets focus on its 22 years of science and where debris could land.

the left
1 outlet
The Globe's headline, on an AP report, leads with a failed rescue effort and a telescope on the verge of plunging, framing the event as a rescue gone wrong.
NASA telescope is on the verge of plunging back to Earth after failed rescue mission
The Boston GlobeFar LeftAll left-leaning headlines
the center
2 outlets
Center headlines state the re-entry plainly with NASA as the actor, and Newsweek frames it as a question about where debris could land.
NASA satellite to plunge back to Earth after 22 years in space
Scripps NewsCenterAll center headlines
the right
No coverage yet
No right-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

Left2
barely clinging to spacetottering lower and lower
Center1
raising questions
Right
Has not covered this story.

In the outlets’ own words

Sensational language
barely clinging to spaceMore neutral: orbiting at a low altitude
The phrase adds drama about the telescope's condition beyond the reported orbit and decay.
(AP) — An aging NASA telescope is barely clinging to space after a failed rescue effort left it tottering lower and lower.
Used byThe Boston Globe (Far Left)
Loaded verb
tottering lower and lowerMore neutral: descending
The verb gives the orbital decline a staggering image that the reported altitude data does not require.
…telescope is barely clinging to space after a failed rescue effort left it tottering lower and lower.
Used byThe Boston Globe (Far Left)
Vague attribution
raising questionsMore neutral: state the question and who is asking
The writer is raising the question while pretending someone else did.
…explosions is expected to plunge back through Earth's atmosphere within days, raising questions about whether any debris could survive the fiery descent and where it might end…
Used byNewsweek (Center)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

1 outlet

Leads with

failed rescue effort
telescope barely clinging to orbit
tungsten debris reaching the surface

Leaves out

NASA announcing the end of the science mission
solar activity as a cause of orbital decay

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the headline from the leftHide the headlines

The Boston GlobeFar LeftAssociated Press report
NASA telescope is on the verge of plunging back to Earth after failed rescue mission
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An aging NASA telescope is Sensational language“barely clinging to space”The phrase adds drama about the telescope's condition beyond the reported orbit and decay.More neutral: orbiting at a low altitudeDisagree with this highlight? after a failed rescue effort left it Loaded verb“tottering lower and lower”The verb gives the orbital decline a staggering image that the reported altitude data does not require.More neutral: descendingDisagree with this highlight?. The U.S. Space Force predicts the Swift Observatory will come crashing down on or around Friday. …
10 hr agoRead at The Boston Globe (opens in a new tab)

From the center

2 outlets

Leads with

end of the science mission
more than two decades in orbit
where debris could land

Leaves out

the failed rescue effort

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 2 headlines from the centerHide the headlines

NewsweekCenter
NASA's Swift Observatory Is Falling to Earth. Where Could It Land?
NASA's Swift Observatory may make a fiery return to Earth around Friday after more than two decades studying gamma-ray bursts.
2 hr agoRead at Newsweek (opens in a new tab)
Scripps NewsCenter
NASA satellite to plunge back to Earth after 22 years in space
NASA says its Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory has ended its science mission and is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere in the coming weeks. The agency did not provide a specific re-entry date. As of this week, the satellite was orbiting about 171 miles above Earth's surface. …
8 hr agoRead at Scripps News (opens in a new tab)

From the right

0 outlets

No right-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

The stories you read build My Mix, a private picture of which sides cover the stories you choose, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

Left
First to report
The Boston Globe, Oct 31, 10:33 AM EDT
Center
2 hr 13 min later
Its first report, Oct 31, 12:46 PM EDT
Right
No report yet
From the outlets Mantle follows

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order

The Boston GlobeFar LeftOct 31, 10:33 AM EDT
Scripps NewsCenterOct 31, 12:46 PM EDT
NewsweekCenterOct 31, 6:37 PM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.

NASA ends science mission of Swift Observatory as the satellite nears re-entry

Coverage spectrum

Key points

Compare views

the left

the center

the right

Language to notice

In the outlets’ own words

Side by side

From the left

NASA telescope is on the verge of plunging back to Earth after failed rescue mission

From the center

NASA's Swift Observatory Is Falling to Earth. Where Could It Land?

NASA satellite to plunge back to Earth after 22 years in space

From the right

How the coverage built up

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