Science & Tech news · 2 November 2026
NASA's Swift Space Telescope Heading for Uncontrolled Reentry After Rescue Fails
NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere in the coming days after a robotic rescue mission failed to boost it to a higher orbit. Most of the roughly 3,300-pound spacecraft is expected to burn up, with small dense fragments potentially reaching a band within about 21 degrees of the equator.
Rubin Observatory Spots Potential Sixth Dwarf Planet Beyond Neptune
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has identified object 2026 ED138, a body estimated at 600–1,500 km across in a distant region of the solar system beyond Neptune's orbit and about 46 times Earth's distance from the Sun — one of the largest dwarf planet candidates yet detected. Further observations are required to confirm whether it qualifies as a dwarf planet.
Rocket Lab Launches 99th Mission with Japanese Radar Satellite
Rocket Lab's Electron rocket lifted off from New Zealand on 2 November 2026, carrying a synthetic aperture radar satellite for Japanese firm iQPS — the company's 99th mission overall and 10th for this customer. The SAR satellite joins a growing constellation capable of imaging Earth through clouds, day and night.
New Climate Report: Overshooting 1.5°C Locks In Irreversible Ocean and Ice Damage
A landmark annual synthesis by more than 70 scientists warns that even a temporary overshoot of the 1.5°C warming threshold will trigger irreversible damage to oceans, glaciers and permafrost. The 2026/2027 edition of '10 New Insights in Climate Science' also finds that freshwater loss is accelerating globally and that new attribution science is strengthening climate accountability cases.
India Restores NavIC Satellite Navigation System with NVS-03 Launch
ISRO's GSLV-F18 rocket successfully carried the NVS-03 satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit on 30 October 2026, restoring India's homegrown NavIC navigation system to full operation. The satellite features an indigenous atomic clock and adds the L1 frequency for compatibility with consumer smartphones.