NASA: Planet-hunting Kepler spacecraft enters emergency mode

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: It's the second time in a row that Kepler spacecraft has placed itself in emergency mode.

During a routine contact on April 7, NASA received a transmission that Kepler had entered "emergency mode", as per a NASA statement.

Although, this mode protects further damage of the spacecraft but it's the minimal operational mode and highly fuel-intensive.

The exact reason of this sudden technical malfunction is still unknown but NASA scientists are working diligently to overcome the situation.

Kepler spacecraft which is now on its extended mission K2, was launched in 2009 with the goal of finding candidate planets outside our solar system. It achieved major success in 2012 for discovering nearly 5,000 exoplanets.

This is not the first time Kepler has faced such challenges. In May 2013, the spacecraft lost second of its four gyroscopic reaction wheels which maintain its balance.

Let's hope Kepler's team soon coin some plan to recover the spacecraft.

(With agency inputs)