THE KEPLER MISSION KEY PROJECT

1. Conduct a census of exoplanets in the Kepler field of view and provide a statistically significant value for the frequency of Earth-size and larger planets in and near the habitable zone.
2. Characterize the size and orbital distributions of such planets.
3. Identify correlations between the presence and characteristics of planetary systems with stellar properties of the host star.

The search for Earth-sized and larger planets through transit events about solar-type stars involves continuous monitoring of over 160,000 stars, consisting largely of F through M main sequence stars. A discussion of the Kepler mission and it's scientific objectives can be found on the Kepler mission page. Background information can be found at NASA's Discovery Program pages.

KEPLER NON-KEY PROJECTS

In addition to the Key Project, there are other organized research projects associated with the Kepler mission, including studies involving asteroseismology, cluster stars, gyrochronology and astrometry. In the event of target overlap between GO and non-Key Project mission studies, the data will be distributed to both parties and the GO investigator will not have exclusive access to their data. However exclusivity rights will be maintained equally for all recipients of the data. Proposals with novel scientific objectives or approaches that expand the current range of non-exoplanet science issues being addressed by Kepler data, while capitalizing on the mission's unique capabilities and avoiding replication of ongoing investigations, are encouraged. GO proposals proposing the same science and the same targets as the non-Key Project mission will not be accepted. Proposals containing the same science as non-Kepler Projects but on different targets will be given fair consideration by the Kepler GO peer review panel. Proposals containing science different than the non-Key Projects but on existing non-Key Project targets will be given fair consideration. US members of the Kepler Asteroseismic Science Consortium (KASC) are eligible to compete for GO funding for the purpose of pursuing US-led KASC programs.

GUEST OBSERVER/KASC DATA SHARING POLICY

The KASC is a collaboration between the Kepler Team and community asteroseismologists with pre-determined guaranteed targets. The policies of this collaboration have been chosen carefully to ensure asteroseismological expoitation of Kepler data without retricting targets or science in the GO program. Those policies are summarized here:

1. The initial KASC target list contains 1,500 long cadence targets. Most of these targets will be observed continuously throughout the mission. The KASC target list also contains 5,000 short cadence targets, each will be observed for one month only. After Jun 2010 the KASC will trim this target list down to 500 sources which is their final short cadence target list. 140 of these will be observed each month during the primary mission.
2. At any time during the mission a KASC target can be selected by a GO for observations and, if selected by the Target Allocation Committee (TAC), the GO and KASC will share data. Note data sharing will only occur for the months where KASC and GO programs overlap. GOs and the KASC may observe the same target with different cadences. Only the cadence proposed by the GO will be delivered.
3. GOs cannot block the KASC from observing stars on the initial KASC list. The KASC cannot block any approved GO observing.
4. If the KASC asks to selects a new target in Jun 2010 that is not on the original list then it can only become a KASC target if it is not a GO target.

Previous: Scope Next: Mission Characteristics

	+ Freedom of Information Act + Budgets, Strategic Plans and Accountability Reports + The President's Management Agenda + NASA Privacy Statement, Disclaimer, and Accessibility Certification + Inspector General Hotline + Equal Employment Opportunity Data Posted Pursuant to the No Fear Act + Information-Dissemination Priorities and Inventories		Editor: Martin Still NASA Official: Jessie Dotson Last Updated: Jan 6, 2012 + Contact NASA