Kepler Mission Options

[imran]

This NASA Discovery mission is to be launched in June 2008 and will search for Earth-size and smaller planets. Launch was originally scheduled in 2007 but delayed by 8 months due to "funding constraints".

Here's the official web site:
http://www.kepler.arc.nasa.gov/

[BrianJ]

Congratulations on a succesful launch to everyone involved with the Kepler mission.

I have two questions which someone here may be able to enlighten me on:

1. Why wasn't an L2 orbit used (similar to the forthcoming Herschel and Planck missions)? Wouldn't an L2 orbit give a longer mission lifetime?

2. If/when an exo-planet is detected, is there any way to determine the eccentricity of it's orbit (either by Kepler or by ground based observations)?

Best regards,
Brian

[Del Palmer]

1. Why wasn't an L2 orbit used (similar to the forthcoming Herschel and Planck missions)? Wouldn't an L2 orbit give a longer mission lifetime?

I recall L2 being mentioned early on, but they descoped along the way in order to fit on a Delta II -- it's sobering to think Kepler was rejected four times before being accepted!

[MahFL]

We saw the launch last night in real life from our location in Orange Park, FL. The Delta 2 looked like a large firework rocket at first. Then an orange light which noticeably accelerated. We have seen the Shuttle launch several times and also I think one of the Rovers.