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Today in History: Kepler Telescope Launched to Find Earth-Like Planets

3/7/2026

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Story summary

On March 7, 2009, NASA launched the Kepler space telescope, aimed at discovering Earth-sized planets orbiting distant stars. Named after astronomer Johannes Kepler, the mission significantly advanced our understanding of planetary systems. After nearly a decade of operation, Kepler was retired on October 30, 2018, following the depletion of its fuel.

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Story summary

On March 7, 2009, NASA launched the Kepler space telescope, aimed at discovering Earth-sized planets orbiting distant stars. Named after astronomer Johannes Kepler, the mission significantly advanced our understanding of planetary systems. After nearly a decade of operation, Kepler was retired on October 30, 2018, following the depletion of its fuel.