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Kepler : NASA's search for Earth-like Exoplanets launches in 48hrs

TheMasterOfOrion

TheMasterOfOrion

Fleet Captain
Fleet Captain
Kepler will monitor 100,000 stars with enough precision to find Earth-size planets in the habitable zone of alien stars. :vulcan: Locating rocky worlds like Earth, including those that lie in a star’s habitable zone, could mean identifying planets where liquid water, and perhaps life, could exist. Kepler might be able to detect the moon in transiting extrasolar Earth-Moon-like systems with a 20% probability. Delta 2 rocket with Kepler has been cleared for blastoff :bolian:

http://kepler.nasa.gov/sci/basis/goals.html

http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/Kepler/kepler_index.cfm

http://discovery.nasa.gov/kepler.html

If you live near Canaveral, Florida please take photos of the launch for this very exciting mission :techman:


European version already launched here :borg:
http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=81579
Corot
 
TheMasterOfOrion said:
If you live near Canaveral, Florida please take photos of the launch for this very exciting mission :techman:
Click to expand...

I always keep an eye out for the launches and have posted a couple of YouTube videos of Shuttle launches taken from my front door 130miles south of the Cape (near West Palm Beach).

If you're anywhere from Miami to Orlando to Jacksonville you can see the launches if you know where and when to look, so you don't really have to live near Canaveral. Night launches are very, very spectacular.

:cool::cool::cool:
 
photos at the NASA site


http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/main/index.html


315431main_keplerpayloadfairing405x.gif


Image above: Workers attach the two-part payload fairing over the Kepler spacecraft in preparation for launch. The cover, designed to jettison shortly after launch, protects the spacecraft from the friction and turbulence as it speeds through the atmosphere during launch. Image credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

The Kepler spacecraft and its Delta II rocket have been cleared to launch into space late Friday night following a thorough review by launch managers Monday.

Liftoff is scheduled for 10:49 p.m. EST.
:bolian:
The Launch Services Program was joined by officials and engineers from the United Launch Alliance, the Kepler program and others to examine all aspects of the observatory and the launcher.
 
I'm excited. Kepler won't tell us about our solar neighborhood, but it will tell us what to expect in our solar neighborhood.
 
This is going to provide a lot of answers about how many smaller rocky planets like Earth there are. We are finally going to get some solid data on which to base our projections and theorys about habitable planets.
 
I'm excited, but knowing the US govt any real proof of another earth like planet will be covered up. Oh sure we will be told about some rocky planets that COULD harbor life if the temperture wasnt 1000 degrees or if it wasnt covered with life, but if this thing truly finds an earthlike planet that is equal to our planet, they will cover it up.
 
It looked good, both my kids wanted to see it launch so hung out at the computer after dinner. Nerd house...
 
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