Nasa’s Kepler space telescope nearing end as fuel runs low
Engineers say ‘warning signs’ indicate craft has only a few months left
Nasa has announced that its Kepler space telescope only has a few months left until it “dies”, after nine years in space during which it has identified 2,245 exoplanets.
The telescope’s chief engineer, Charlie Sobeck, said in a blog post that the probe is running out of fuel, prompting the US space agency to “collect as much science data as possible” before the craft’s expected shutdown “within several months”.
The spacecraft isn’t equipped with a fuel gauge but has exhibited a number of “warning signs”, such as a drop in thruster performance and fuel pressure, that suggest it’s nearing the end of its power supply, Sobeck explained.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Since launching in 2009, the Kepler mission has been a resounding success for Nasa, says Alphr.
As well as thousands of confirmed exoplanets, the spacecraft has discovered a further 2,345 unconfirmed worlds. At least 30 of the exoplanets are “less than twice the size of Earth”, adds Alphr, and are found in “habitable zones of their stars” - meaning they could be home to extraterrestrial life.
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing, however.
In 2013, the telescope suffered a mechanical failure that prevented it from focusing on star systems, Gizmodo reports.
Nasa was able to recommission the Kepler probe by using pressure from the Sun’s rays to “maintain its gaze”, the website says.
Unlike standard satellites, the dying telescope will not fall back into the Earth’s atmosphere and burn up, as it is currently 94 million miles away from our planet, says The Register. Instead, it is expected to pass above and past Earth in around 40 years’ time.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - October 13, 2024
Sunday's cartoons - the swing of things, fear of facts, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 timely cartoons about climate change denial
Cartoons Artists take on textbook trouble, bizarre beliefs, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Kris Kristofferson: the free-spirited country music star who studied at Oxford
In the Spotlight The songwriter, singer and film-star has died aged 88
By The Week UK Published
-
Starliner: What went wrong?
Today's Big Question Boeing spacecraft has had a 'long, difficult road'
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Boeing, SpaceX successfully test key rockets
Speed Read Boeing’s Starliner docked at the ISS and SpaceX completed its fourth test launch of its Starship spacecraft
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Nasa reveals first findings from asteroid that could explain origins of life
Speed Read Sample from Bennu has been found to contain an abundance of water and carbon
By Jamie Timson, The Week UK Published
-
Dark side of the Moon: will the race to lunar South Pole spark conflict?
Today's Big Question Russia and India are competing for the ‘new lunar gold’ – but real contest will be between the US and China
By The Week Staff Published
-
How worried we should be about space debris
feature As part of a rocket washes up in Australia scientists warn ‘critical mass’ of orbital junk could only be decades away
By The Week Staff Published
-
What is NASA's Artemis program?
Speed Read NASA's ambitious Artemis program will eventually create a base on the moon — and lay the foundations for manned missions to Mars
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
SpaceX launches 1st all-civilian crew into orbit
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Is SpaceX's Inspiration4 really an inspiration?
Talking Point
By Jeva Lange Published