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Kepler Space Telescope Retired By NASA

NASA is retiring its Kepler space telescope because it's run out of fuel after nearly a decade spent hunting several thousand planets beyond our solar system. Kepler has revolutionised our understanding of the universe. It has helped astronomers measure potential planets as they passed in front of stars, refining the search for those that might harbour water and be capable of supporting life. A new planet-hunter, named TESS, was launched in April and Kepler has been left drifting around the Sun more than a hundred-and-fifty-million kilometres from Earth. Professor Lewis Dartnell from the University Of Westminster discusses Kepler's legacy.

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3 minutes