Versión en Español
Last updated 5/27/2004
It is a special purpose space mission in the NASA Headquarters Discovery Program for detecting terrestrial planets, that is, rocky and Earth-size, around other stars.
When a planet passes in front of its parent star, as seen by us, it blocks a small fraction of the light from that star. If the dimming is truly caused by a planet, then the transits must be repeatable. Measuring three transits all with a consistent period, duration and change in brightness provides a rigorous method for discovering and confirming planets - planets even smaller than the Earth.
From the brightness change the planet size can be calculated. From the period the orbital size can be calculated and the planet's temperature estimated.
Kepler was selected
as one of the two new Discovery missions ! ! ! !See the NASA Ames press release
and the NASA Headquarters press release
The following is a Table of Contents = Site Map
Value of the Investigation
Nature of the Investigation
Goals and Objectives of the Kepler Mission
Capabilities of Various Planet Detection Methods
Characteristics of Transits
Target Field of View
Detectable Planet Size
Number of Stars for Which Planets Can Be Detected
Detection of Giant Planets
Expected Results
Complementary Observations
Guest Observers and Data Analysis Program Interactive FOV calculator added 5/2004Differential Photometry
Stellar Variability
Transit Detection and Simulation
Photometer and Spacecraft
Launch Vehicle and Spacecraft OrbitTechnology Demonstration: Overview
Objectives
Laboratory Facility Description
Construction Photographs
Test Criteria, System Characterization and Data Processing
Tech Demo Test Results
Solar Transits: Tools of Discovery, Edna DeVore, Space.com 4 Sept 2003
Is There Another World Out There Somewhere?, Dan Vergano, USA Today 3 June 2003
Bill Borucki's Planet Search, Andrew Lawler, Air and Space, p. 52, April/May 2003
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (Animated)
Literature in color in PDF format for downloadingFree Software. New version (1.4) released in Jan 12, 2001
Build your own Paper Model of Satellite (New Jan 2003)
Johannes Kepler His Life. His Laws (animated). His Times.
Links to Other Sites Relating to Johannes Kepler His Laws, biographical info, books, etc.
Additional Reading on Planet Detection Popular articles, books and hot links.
Links to Other Sites on Planet Detection
Extrasolar planet humor
Team Members
Downloadable Illustrations and Animations
Technical Papers
References Used in Discussions
Acronyms, Abbreviations and Units
Future milestones:
Launch Oct. 2007
Critical Design Review (CDR) Aug. 2005
Preliminary Design Review (PDR) Oct. 2004Downselection was made to e2v on 28 Oct 2003 as the single supplier of all flight CCDs. e2v has met or exceeded all design requirements to date.
System Requirements Review (SRR) was held on 15-17 Oct. 2003. All systems are go!
Brashear was competitively selected as the vendor for the 1.4 m diameter light-weight primary mirror and the fused-silica Schmidt corrector in May 2003. Corning will be providing both of the pieces of glass. press release
Evaluation grade CCDs (electrically functional, but not thinned) were received from the two CCD vendors, STA and E2V, in May 2003.
Phase B was officially started in Oct. 2002.
E2V and STA were awarded parallel contracts for 30 flight CCDs each in July 2002 as long lead procurements.
Kepler was selected on Dec 21, 2001 as one of the next two Discovery missions ! ! ! !
See the NASA Ames press release, the NASA Headquarters press release and the Discovery Newsletter. Note that the launch date in the press releases has since been updated to 2007.On July 20, 2001 NASA HQ received our Concept Study Report (Step 2 proposal) for the the next new Discovery Mission. Two competing proposals (Dawn and Inside Jupiter) were also due by July 24.
On Mar 22, 2001 a kick-off meeting was held at NASA HQ for the three candidate missions to begin their 4 month studies leading to a down-selection of one mission for flight.
On Jan 4, 2001 the Kepler Mission was selected as one of three candidate missions for the next Discovery mission. Final selection for flight will be done towards the end of 2001. See the attached NASA HQ Announcement. Further details are contained in the NASA Ames Press Release
We have updated this web site to reflect what has been proposed to NASA.
We received funding in 1999 to perform a technology demonstration. This is described in several new papers on the Technical Papers page and in several new web pages Technology Demonstration.
Note: If you continue to click on the above finger icon,
you will cover all the pages (38) in this web site sequentially.
Home Page
Home Page
Curator: David Koch,
Go to The First Topic
