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Archived Features: April 2009 |
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KEPLER NEARS SCIENCE OPERATIONS | APRIL 29, 2009 |
 http://kepler.nasa.gov/about/news.html Image credit: NASA. |
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PHARMASAT PREPARES FOR LAUNCH | April 29, 2009 |
 Full resolution Ames is preparing to launch a nanosatellite as a secondary payload on the USAF TacSat-3 mission. Upon launch on a Minotaur-1 rocket from Wallops Island, Virginia, PharmaSat will study the effectiveness of antifungal agents in space. Launch is currently scheduled for the evening of May 5. This will be the third nanosatellite orbited as part of Ames' small satellite program. For additional details about the mission, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/pharmasat.html Image Credit: NASA Ames Research Center |
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FIRST IMAGE FROM KEPLER | April 16, 2009 |
 Full resolution The stunning 'first light' image from Kepler reveals that the telescope is operating as expected. About 100 square degrees in extent, the image includes 14 million stars, a variety of star clusters -- and background galaxies! Kepler will monitor a carefully selected set of 100,000 of the stars for the next 3.5 years to look for periodic dimming of the starlight, thereby revealing the presence of transiting Earth-sized planets. The apparent brightness gradient from the upper left to the lower right is result of the increased stellar density nearer the Galactic plane. Additional details about this image, and two close-up zooms, are available online at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/multimedia/20090416.html. Commissioning activities will continue for the next week, with am emphasis on adjusting the focus, to accurately map the focal plane geometry, to assess ghosting and stray light effects, to analyze the fine-pointing guidance, and to measure the pixel response function. The start of routine science operations is scheduled for May 7. For frequent updates on the progress of the mission provided by the Project Manager, visit: http://kepler.nasa.gov/about/news.html Image credit: NASA/Ames/JPL-Caltech |
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KEPLER OPENS ITS EYES TO THE UNIVERSE | April 8, 2009 |
 On April 7 at 7.13pm (PDT), the protective dust cover was ejected successfully from Kepler! The spacecraft has been maneuvered to science attitude, where it will remain for the collection of photometer focal plane data. Science commissioning will continue for the next month. Over the next week, Kepler will collect and process its 'first light' image, perform various calibration tasks (including those needed for the fine guidance sensors), and undergo a series of focus checks. For a joint ARC-JPL press release on the dust cover ejection, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/news/kepler-20090407.html For frequent updates on the progress of the mission, visit: http://kepler.nasa.gov/about/news.html Image Credit: NASA/Kepler Mission |
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