The Kepler space mission has been hugely successful identifying countless planets that but it looks like it’s soon going to be over.

The Kepler mission is coming to an end. The planet-hunting spacecraft that transformed our understanding of exoplanets and other solar systems is almost out of fuel. What little fuel remains is being held in reserve to ensure that the last of its data can be sent home.

The Kepler team has placed the spacecraft in sleep mode for the time being. They’re ensuring that there’s enough fuel for it to download its data via NASA’s Deep Space Network. The next allotted time to do that is October 10th.

It’s difficult to know exactly how much fuel is left onboard the spacecraft. If any fuel remains after its download next week, it will begin a new observing campaign. But there’s a lot of uncertainty.

Source: Universe Today

Sad that it’s coming to an end but all things do, thanks Kepler!