WMEO News Flash: Swift’s Final Descent

This is WMEO 9 Breaking News We Meow- You Listen
Banner: Good afternoon. We interrupt our regular programming for this WMEO News Flash. NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere any day now after efforts to save the spacecraft failed.
Balboa: Failed.
Banner: Failed.
Balboa: That’s not my favorite word.
Banner: The Swift Observatory has spent years studying some of the most energetic events in the universe, including gamma-ray bursts, black holes, and exploding stars.
Balboa: And now it’s studying gravity.
Banner: A private robotic mission recently attempted to raise Swift into a higher orbit and extend its life.
Balboa: A noble plan.
Banner: Unfortunately, the mission was unsuccessful.
Balboa: And that’s when I ordered the hard hat.
Banner: The observatory is now expected to make an uncontrolled reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.
Balboa: “Uncontrolled” is not helping.
Banner: Experts expect much of the spacecraft to burn up during reentry.
Balboa: Much.
Banner: Much.
Balboa: Not all.
Banner: Potentially not all.
Balboa: That’s how math works, Banner.
Banner: The risk to any individual person remains extremely low.
Balboa: That’s what the telescope wants us to think.
Banner: The telescope doesn’t think.
Balboa: That’s exactly what makes it dangerous.
Banner: We now go live to Pumpkin Spice with Team WMEO’s field report.
[Cut to Pumpkin Spice aboard a ship at sea.]

Pumpkin Spice: Thank you, Banner. I am reporting from the Atlantic Ocean, where experts believe any surviving debris would most likely land.
Balboa: MOST LIKELY.
Pumpkin Spice: Yes.
Balboa: Not definitely.
Pumpkin Spice: No.
Balboa: That’s why you’re there.
Pumpkin Spice: I still don’t understand why I’m here.
Balboa: If the telescope lands in the ocean, WMEO will have exclusive coverage.
Pumpkin Spice: How?
Balboa: You’ll point at it.
Pumpkin Spice: So far I’ve observed several waves and one suspicious seagull.
Balboa: Continue monitoring both.
[Back at the News Desk]
Banner: NASA continues to track the telescope’s descent and will refine predictions as reentry approaches.
Balboa: Good. Someone should.
Banner: NASA stresses there is no cause for alarm.

Banner: Balboa, what are you doing?
Balboa: Implementing Phase Seven.
Banner: What happened to Phases One through Six?
Balboa: They failed.
Banner: What were they?
Balboa: Mostly screaming.

Banner: For WMEO News, I’m Banner.
Balboa: (from under the desk) Stay alert. Stay safe. Watch the skies.
This Has been a WMEO 9 Breaking News Alert- Please resume your regular Scrolling
