NASA, along with the U.S. Space Force and The Aerospace Corporation, tracked the decay of the 1.5-tonne (3,200 lb.) Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory as it made its uncontrolled re-entry.
Key facts regarding the warning and re-entry:
Debris Corridor: Surviving components are predicted to fall along a latitude belt between 20.6° South and 20.6° North (covering areas primarily over oceans, as well as portions of South America, Africa, and South/Southeast Asia).
Ground Risk: NASA assesses the risk of injury or damage to anyone on the ground to be very low, at approximately 1 in 2,100.
Debris Hazard: While most of the satellite incinerated during atmospheric entry, dense metal components (such as tungsten shielding and telescope mirrors) are designed to withstand high temperatures and reach Earth's surface.
