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by Marcia Dunn | AP July 9 at 14:56
NASA's Kepler Space Telescope is almost out of fuel and has had to take a nap.
Flight controllers placed the planet's probe in hibernation last week. It will remain asleep until early August, when controllers will attempt to send the collected data before the sightings are interrupted.
Kepler has been searching planets outside our solar system for nearly a decade. Considered the pioneer of planetary hunting, he has discovered nearly 3,000 confirmed worlds and as many potential candidates.
Launched in 2009, Kepler endured mechanical failures and other mishaps. But there is no way around an empty fuel tank. Fuel is needed to point the telescope
The Kepler antenna must be pointed towards the Earth to retrieve the most recent observations. For the moment, it is the highest priority of the team.
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