Repairs fail on Kepler space telescope NASA has decided to retire the damaged Kepler space telescope after being unable to fix one of its stabilising wheels. While Kepler has succeeded in its primary mission, confirming 135 planets beyond the Solar System, it had been hoped it could continue to pinpoint some 3500 more planets, believed to be in "goldilocks" zones" capable of sustaining life. More about: NASA, Space research, Space technology