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A Kepler Mission, A Search for Habitable Planets: Concept, Capabilities and StrengthsThe detection of extrasolar terrestrial planets orbiting main-sequence stars is of great interest and importance. Current ground-based methods are only capable of detecting objects about the size or mass of Jupiter or larger. The technological challenges of direct imaging of Earth-size planets from space are expected to be resolved over the next twenty years. Spacebased photometry of planetary transits is currently the only viable method for detection of terrestrial planets (30-600 times less massive than Jupiter). The method searches the extended solar neighborhood, providing a statistically large sample and the detailed characteristics of each individual case. A robust concept has been developed and proposed as a Discovery-class mission. The concept, its capabilities and strengths are presented.
Document ID
20020065445
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Other
Authors
Koch, David
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Borucki, William
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Lissauer, Jack
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Dunham, Edward
(Lowell Observatory Flagstaff, AZ United States)
Jenkins, Jon
(Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Inst. United States)
DeVincenzi, D.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1998
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 344-37-01-02
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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