First space telescope for Earth-like exoplanets

NASA's Kepler Mission marked a pivotal advancement in the search for Earth-like exoplanets. This mission was specifically designed to identify planets that could potentially support life by focusing on those within the habitable zone of their stars, where conditions might be right for liquid water to exist. The Kepler space telescope utilized a photometer to monitor the brightness of over 150,000 stars simultaneously, detecting minute changes in brightness that indicated the presence of planets transiting in front of their host stars. This method, known as the transit method, allowed for the precise measurement of a planet's size and orbit, providing critical data on its potential habitability. The mission's design and objectives were rooted in the understanding that finding Earth-like planets is essential for assessing the possibility of life beyond our solar system. The impact of the Kepler Mission has been profound, leading to the discovery of thousands of exoplanets, many of which are Earth-sized and located in their stars' habitable zones. This has significantly expanded our understanding of the universe and the potential for life elsewhere. The data collected by Kepler has enabled astronomers to refine their models of planetary formation and evolution, as well as to better understand the diversity of planetary systems. By identifying a substantial number of Earth-like candidates, the mission has laid the groundwork for future explorations and studies aimed at characterizing these distant worlds. The findings from Kepler have also spurred interest in subsequent missions and technologies aimed at directly imaging exoplanets and analyzing their atmospheres for signs of life.