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NASA's Kepler Completes Prime Mission, Begins Extended Mission

Blog post by: Ivan Cukanić

Author of the article: Michele Johnson

Source: NASA

URL: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/news/kepler_prime_mission.html

   Kepler is a space telescope that was launched into space on the 6th of March, 2009. It is on a mission to find planets we could live on that are similar to Earth.  Kepler made many discoveries with a variety of new techniques. One of its most famous discoveries is the "Kepler 22b", a planet which is in the habitable zone in its solar system. It has completed its 3 year long mission and now it begins an extended mission which will last four more years.

   I liked this article because it talks about new discoveries in space. I think Kepler is actually going to find Earth's "twin planet" on the extended mission, and I do hope that planet will be close, so we can travel to it quickly. I have learned from this article that we need to be patient in order to find revolutionary discoveries, for this space telescope's mission will last 7 years in total. This article also taught me that Earth is not a unique planet and that maybe there is intelligent life out there. I don't mean aliens from science fiction novels and movies, but something like humans. I believe in this article because its from NASA, and NASA is the most famous space research organization in the world. NASA's articles are written by scientists and educated, trustworthy people.