WASHINGTON, May 15 (UPI) -- The future of the planet-hunting Kepler space telescope mission is in jeopardy after a part that helps it point to cosmic targets failed, NASA said Wednesday.
In a teleconference call streamed on the Internet, Associate NASA Administrator John Grunsfeld said one of three reaction wheels that work in conjunction to keep the telescope oriented and aimed at distant stars to look for evidence of exoplanets has gone bad.