The NASA Kepler Mission

The NASA Kepler and K2 missionshave made fundamental, paradigm-changing advances in essentially every area ofastrophysics and planetary science. While known for their breakthroughdiscoveries in exoplanets - especially small rocky worlds orbiting in thehabitable zone of their host suns - these missions have also continued to makenumerous scientific advances in solar system science, stellar astrophysics andextragalactic astronomy. This book is devoted to the Kepler and K2 missions andcovers the tremendous new discoveries made in the areas of spacecraftengineering, asteroseismology, binary and variable stars, stellar astrophysics,white dwarfs, asteroids and comets, active galaxies, supernovae, black holes,and of course exoplanets of all types. It is suitable for the interestedlayperson, pupils of science and space missions, and advanced science studentsand researchers wishing for an introduction and highly focused memoir of theNASA Kepler mission and its amazing accomplishments.Key Features Provides an introduction to advanced science presentations on all major mission topicsWritten by the scientists who made the discoveriesIncludes engineering and spacecraft discussions Describes the effects of the mission on science and the world, integrating many of the major discoveries and their graphics, movies, and materialsIncludes side boxes of interest, for example exoplanet naming conventions and perspectives from noted scientists