Sun shines new life on Kepler space telescope

NASA’s prolific planet hunter brought back to life by balancing on sunlight

NOT QUITE DEAD  The Kepler spacecraft, seen in an artist’s illustration, is getting back to work after an early forced retirement. To compensate for the loss of two reaction wheels, the planet hunter will use sunlight to steady its gaze.

Wendy Stenzel/Kepler mission/NASA

Reports of Kepler’s death have been greatly exaggerated.