Kepler - Space Project Launches on 5th March 2009

[Kodiak]

This proget is designed to search out planets around stars that could possibly have Life.

http://astronautics.posterous.com/kepler-spacecraft-at-astrotecs

[DM07]

huh? I mean eh?

[Kodiak]

Kepler arrives at at Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. (http://astronautics.posterous.com/untitled-25051)


http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/astronautics/klXw8tbhUlNkwnb6PQwfAPQwm2WKcvB4wG1AcAdUZ6pcmCa6FY OqinTq13yE/19-feb-2009-kepler.jpg.scaled.500.jpgClick to view large
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(http://astronautics.posterous.com/untitled-25051#)
Feb 19, 2009: The truck carrying NASA's Kepler spacecraft, enclosed in a canister and protective cover, arrives at Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The liftoff of Kepler aboard a Delta II rocket is currently targeted for 10:48 p.m. EST March 5 from Pad 17-B. Kepler is designed to survey more than 100,000 stars in our galaxy to determine the number of sun-like stars that have Earth-size and larger planets, including those that lie in a star's "habitable zone," a region where liquid water, and perhaps life, could exist. If these Earth-size worlds do exist around stars like our sun, Kepler is expected to be the first to find them and the first to measure how common they are. - courtesy of NASA; image credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

[abc123]

This proget is designed to search out planets around stars that could possibly have Life.


They'd do well to let it do a few orbits around Earth first and see what it finds.

[oldmarine]

They'd do well to let it do a few orbits around Earth first and see what it finds.


Any idea of what you think would be found?

[Ricco]

Great news and nice to see Kepler honoured in this way. The next auto-truck delivery to the space station is also named after Kepler. I was interested to see that after these trucks deliver their load they are sent to burnup safely in the atmosphere. Considering their enormous size and cost I fail to understand why they aren't incorporated into the space station as new modules. :eek:

[Kodiak]

Great news and nice to see Kepler honoured in this way. The next auto-truck delivery to the space station is also named after Kepler. I was interested to see that after these trucks deliver their load they are sent to burnup safely in the atmosphere. Considering their enormous size and cost I fail to understand why they aren't incorporated into the space station as new modules. :eek:

You have a very good point there, I assume that there must be a reason but what I have no idea. I will ask and try to find out but I am not sure if "Astronautics" will answer me. They didn't last time.