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Bill Borucki is the principal investigator for NASA's planet-finding Kepler spacecraft. At a recent meeting of the American Astronomical Society, Borucki explained how long it will be before Kepler can tell us whether habitable, Earth-like planets are common or rare:
“I really think by three years from now we will have that answer. The mission is designed to do it in that period of time.”
That's for Earth-like planets orbiting sun-like stars. For habitable planets orbiting brighter, hotter stars, the search will take longer. Kepler has reserve fuel if NASA extends the mission.
“Each year we give you more information. We find more Earths, we find more in the habitable zone. Because if you found one in the habitable zone, would that mean it had life? It might not. Earth might be very special. But if you find 10 of them, or a hundred, or a thousand, almost certainly some of them have life. There are so many opportunities for life to develop, it will have taken advantage of some of those. So each year we will be able to give you a more full answer, a more certain answer. Certainly in three years, we will give you the first good answers. And after that they will be even better.”
—John Matson
[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]
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6 Comments
Add CommentThis is an exciting time for astronomy. I never thought they would ever be able to do such things remotely. In the early days of the space program, it seemed to be assumed that we would have to go there to learn about exoplanets. Very cool.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisNASA must absolutely extend the search for habitable planets.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhen we find, and secure an "earth-like" planet that is otherwise lifeless, what more defensive position exists than the point of entry?
..., and with that adequately covered, after defense, what is left?
..., okay, I meant defensible. Don't get all defensive about it. [would have changed it before, otherwise]
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGood luck on transferring a genetically sustainable reproducing population of humans, along with a sustainable sample of the Earth's flora and fauna necessary to supply their nutritional requirements.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisImagine the possibilities for eventual genetic mutation and adaption if only a few hundred humans made it! We might not recognize ourselves if we ever met again - I wonder what 'we' would be...
Rather than fanatasizing about teraforming some new 'New World', maybe we could teraform the Earth to sustain life or, just imagine, alter our lifestyles to survive on available resources!
The mission of the Kepler observatory has lead to some great discoveries in the field of planetary science, and it has broadened our view of what the Milky Way is really composed of. Although we have not found a planet similar to ours in composition, we have found numerous solar systems and planetary bodies revolving around them. We are not the only planet in the sea. We long to seek out the unknown and sail into the horizon in search of knowledge, curiosity and just the plain deal of going where no (humans) have gone before. We do need to take care of the planet that gave birth to all humans, but we need to go beyond the confines of Earth to the other planets of our solar system. We will not, in this generation, reach other Earth like planets that lie in other solar systems. Would it be better to plant a human on Luna than chase after an asteroid and collect more rocks? A human or android/robot colony would be worth more that a pile of rocks, or chasing after a far distant planet that would take generations to get to; with no guarantee of survival.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisA happy meal or a light snack?
Unfortunately, there's no free lunch anymore - I for one ain't buying...
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