tuckstar Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/home/Kepler-Goes-Down-mdash-and-Probably-Out-207649481.html Kepler has had a mounting wheel gone and has put itself into safe mode. Could be the end of observations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Oh dear - "safe mode" worries me - they shoulda used Unix for the operating system - not Windows lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest T A WOW Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Maybe they'll replace it with something bigger and better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Big Al Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 I had to chuckle at the Daily Fail report on this - describing the craft as having "wheels". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Type-R Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 They have recently put it into "Point rest state" which basically reserves fuel which will give them months if not years to try and solve the issue. They had a wheel fail last year, but Kepler can run on three wheels not four, so for months they have been fine, but recently saw similar signs in a third wheel that they saw in the fourth before it broke. They have also know about this for a while, it has happened on other space craft in the past and is a inherent flaw in this type of design. "I wouldn't call Kepler down and out just yet," said Nasa administrator John Grunsfeld. Fingers crossed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Big Al Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 Maybe the story isn't over yet http://www.nasa.gov/kepler/a-sunny-outlook-for-nasa-keplers-second-light/#.Upue66ggGSM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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