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Mission to fix planet-seeking satellite underway

An artist's concept of Kepler 22b, the first planet that the Kepler observatory confirmed to exist within the habitable zone, a region around a star where liquid water could exist. NASA/Ames/JPL-Caltech

TORONTO – After being in safe mode for almost two months, scientists are trying to fix NASA’s planet-hunting observatory, Kepler.

Recovery efforts began on Thursday, July 18. Engineers are continuing a test of the reaction wheel that caused the satellite’s failure.

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Two reaction wheels have failed on Kepler: one in July 2012 and another was lost in May 2013. In order to take precise measurements, three of the four wheels must operate.

To date, Kepler has confirmed 135 planets, with another 3277 planet candidates.

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