Re: Fuel? Why no solar panels?
Even with solar panels you still need something to push out to move. True, they could of used Ion engines which would of reduced the action mass required, but even that would run out eventually (Smaller mass x higher speed). Also Ion engines are slow and steady, and probably would not be capable of moving a satellite like kepler at the rates required. Fine if you want to reposition over a period of months, but I'm not sure anyone is wanting to wait that long
Finally Kepler has far exceeded its design lifetime, so the engines have done what they needed to do
Biting the hand that feeds IT
