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Kepler Makes First Exoplanet Discovery After Mission Reboot

Posted by samzenpus on from the look-what-we-found dept.

astroengine writes NASA's Kepler space telescope has detected its first new extrasolar planet after mission engineers were able to save the mission from a premature death after two of the exoplanet hunter's four stabilizing reaction wheels failed last year. Called "K2," the extended mission arose from an "innovative idea" that appears to have given the prolific telescope a new lease on life. "Last summer, the possibility of a scientifically productive mission for Kepler after its reaction wheel failure in its extended mission was not part of the conversation," said Paul Hertz, NASA's astrophysics division director at the agency's headquarters in Washington D.C. "Today, thanks to an innovative idea and lots of hard work by the NASA and Ball Aerospace team, Kepler may well deliver the first candidates for follow-up study by the James Webb Space Telescope to characterize the atmospheres of distant worlds and search for signatures of life."

3 of 28 comments (clear)

  1. Why do these reaction wheels keep failing? by flowerp · · Score: 2

    Isn't there any technology to keep reaction wheel discs floating in a vacuum chamber instead of using mechanical bearings?
    How about magnetic suspension and frictionless motor drives? This has to be possible with today's technology.

    Christian

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    1. Re:Why do these reaction wheels keep failing? by werepants · · Score: 2

      It wasn't 4 years, it is closer to 6. Launched in March '09. Secondly, there was a 3.5 year mission life, which Kepler satisfied. Now, even after sustaining some part failures, it continues to do valuable science. So, in fact, it looks like we've got a system that met all objectives and is working far past its design life - if that is pathetic, what would qualify as a success in your eyes?

  2. We suck as a people by argStyopa · · Score: 2

    Seriously, we do.

    The fact that we're finding other PLANETS is now so humdrum that this gets 7 comments, this smells very much like the latter Apollo missions "Oh, we've got guys on the moon again? Zzzz."

    If I simply posted something controversial*, like an entire article about how "global warming is bullshit", that would get 300 comments, easily.

    *of course, I can't use /. as my personal blog. I'm not Bennett Haselton.

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    -Styopa