Physics – Optics
Scientific paper
Dec 2007
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007aas...211.3603b&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #211, #36.03; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 39, p.788
Physics
Optics
Scientific paper
Kepler is a Discovery-class mission designed to determine the frequency of Earth-size planets in and near the habitable zone of solar-like stars. The instrument consists of a high precision photometer with Schmidt-type optics and a focal plane containing 95 million pixels to monitor over 100,000 stars to search for patterns of transits generated by planets as small as Mars. The recent reduction in the mission duration is discussed with regard to the impact on the expected science product and null statistics. Both terrestrial and giant planets discoveries will be followed up with ground-based Doppler-velocity observations to determine mass and density.
The first meeting of Kepler Asteroseismic Science Consortium was held in Paris to organize an international team to analyze the Kepler data to determine the characteristics of the brighter target stars including their size and age. Stellar size determinations accurate to a few percent are expected. These will allow very accurate planet sizes to be determined from the depth of the transit signals.
NASA HQ received thirty six proposals for the Participating Scientist Program and chose several new members to join the Science Team.
Both the 0.95 m Schmidt corrector and 1.4 m aperture primary mirror have been completed and delivered for integration into the photometer. The focal plane with forty-two science CCD detectors and their processing electronics has been assembled and tested. The spacecraft assembly has begun with the mounting of the reaction control system, reaction wheels, attitude determination & control system, and power systems. Both the photometer and spacecraft are nearing final assembly with all subsystems having passed their environmental and performance testing. The photometer to spacecraft integration will begin this spring. The Mission is on schedule for a launch in February 2009.
The Kepler Mission is funded by the NASA Astrophysics Division, Science Mission Directorate.
Borucki William. J.
Bryson Stephen
Caldwell Douglas A.
Christensen-Dalsgaard Joergen
Cochran William D.
No associations
LandOfFree
Kepler Mission: Current Status does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Kepler Mission: Current Status, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Kepler Mission: Current Status will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1476611