NASA’s Swift mission launched in 2004 to detect and study gamma-ray bursts across the universe.
The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, originally called Swift, launched on November 20, 2004. It was built to locate gamma-ray bursts rapidly and observe their fading afterglows in gamma-ray, X-ray, ultraviolet, and visible wavelengths.
Swift can automatically reposition itself after detecting a burst, often beginning follow-up observations within minutes. This rapid response has helped astronomers determine the distances, environments, and physical causes of these powerful explosions. Many bursts are associated with the collapse of massive stars or the merger of compact objects such as neutron stars.
Swift is sometimes confused with NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, which performs a broad gamma-ray survey and studies high-energy sources. Swift’s special strength is fast, coordinated follow-up across several wavelengths immediately after a transient burst is detected.