Kepler 452b: A Journey to Another World

The year is 2023, and Earth's scientists are facing a critical challenge.
The planet's resources are depleting rapidly, and the effects of climate
change are becoming increasingly severe. Humanity must find a new
home among the stars. The Kepler mission, launched by NASA in 2009,
has already discovered thousands of exoplanets, but one stands out
among the rest Kepler 452b. NASA’s Kepler Mission has confirmed the
first near-Earth-size planet Kepler 452b in the “Habitable zone” around
a sun-like star. This discovery and the introduction of 11 other new
small habitable zone candidate planets mark another milestone in the
journey to finding another “Earth”.

Kepler 452b is located approximately 1,400 light-years away from

Earth. Nicknamed "Earth's cousin," this exoplanet bears remarkable
similarities to our planet. It orbits a G-2-type star similar to our sun and
resides within the habitable zone, where conditions may support liquid
water and, potentially, life as we know it. The confirmation of Kepler
452b brings the total number of confirmed planets to 1,030.
Scientists, astronomers, and engineers collaborate tirelessly to plan a
mission to explore Kepler 452b. They assemble a team of experts from
various disciplines, including astrophysics, biology, geology, and space
exploration. The mission's objective is not only to reach Kepler 452b but
also to gather valuable data and search for signs of extraterrestrial life.

After months of rigorous selection, training, and testing, the Kepler 452b
mission crew is assembled. Comprised of courageous astronauts,
brilliant scientists, and skilled engineers, the team is ready to embark on
humanity's greatest adventure.
Commander Mark Turner, a seasoned astronaut, leads the crew. Dr.
Sarah Collins, an astrobiology, will be analyzing any potential signs of
life. Dr. James Mitchell, a geologist, is eager to study the planet's surface
and geological history. The crew is completed by engineers, navigators,
and technicians, each with their specialized roles. On the 20th
anniversary year of the discovery that proved other suns host planets, the
Kepler exoplanet has discovered a planet and star which most closely
resemble the Earth and our Sun, “said John Grunsfeld, associate
administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at the agency’s
headquarters in Washington. “ This exciting result brings us one step
closer to finding an Earth 2.0.”

The Kepler 452b mission sets off in a state-of-the-art spacecraft

equipped with advanced propulsion systems and life-support
technologies. The voyage to Kepler 452b will take over two decades,
during which the crew will be placed in cryogenic sleep to conserve
resources and minimize physiological effects.

Finally, in the year 2047, the crew awakens from their long slumber as
the spacecraft approaches Kepler 452b. The sight that greets them is
awe-inspiring. Kepler 452b resembles a blue marble, reminiscent of
Earth, but with subtle differences. Days turned into weeks as the
scientists tirelessly pored over the data, forming theories and hypotheses.
At last, a breakthrough emerged. Their analysis indicated the presence of
an oxygen-rich atmosphere, hinting at the possibility of life on Kepler-
452b. Excitement rippled through the team as they considered the
implications. Kepler 452b is 60 percent larger in diameter than Earth and
is considered a super Earth-size planet.

As the crew begins their descent, they encounter a vibrant atmosphere

and a diverse landscape. The planet's gravity feels slightly stronger than
Earth's, making their exploration challenging yet exhilarating. While
Kepler-452 b is larger than Earth, its 385-day orbit is only 5 percent
longer. The planet is 5 percent farther from its parent star Kepler 452
than Earth is from the Sun. Kepler-452 is 6 billion years old, 1.5 billion
years older than our sun, has the same temperature, is 20 percent
brighter, and has a diameter 10 percent larger.

Dr. James Mitchell leads geological surveys, uncovering mountains,

valleys, and ancient riverbeds. Dr. Sarah Collins collects soil and water
samples, searching for signs of microbial life. The crew ventures into
vast forests, exploring the unique flora and fauna that inhabit Kepler
452b. “We can think of Kepler-452b as an older, bigger cousin to Earth,
providing an opportunity to understand and reflect upon Earth’s
evolving environment, “said Jon Jenkins, Kepler data analysis lead at
NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, who led the
team that discovered Kepler 452b. “It’s awe-inspiring to consider that
this planet has spent 6 billion years in its star's habitable zone; longer
than Earth. That’s a substantial opportunity for life to arise, should all
the necessary ingredients and conditions for life exist on this planet.”
The crew's discoveries on Kepler 452b captivate the world. Dr. Collins'
analysis reveals microorganisms in the planet's soil, suggesting the
presence of a thriving ecosystem. Dr. Mitchell uncovers evidence of a
once-volcanic landscape, hinting at a dynamic geological history. To
help confirm the finding and better determine the properties of the
Kepler- 452 system, the team conducted ground-based observations at
the University of Texas at Austin’s McDonald Observatory, the Feed
Lawrence Whipple Observatory on Mt. Hopkins, Arizona, and the W.
M. Keck Observatory atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii. These measurements
were key for the size and brightness of its host star and to better pin
down the size of the planet and its orbit.
Also, the Kepler 452b system is located 1,400 light-years away in the
constellation Cygnus.

As the crew continues their mission, they face a profound realization.

Kepler 452b is a distant world, offering hope for humanity's survival.
However, the challenges of colonization, adapting to a new
environment, and preserving the delicate balance of life loom large. In
addition to confirming Kepler-452b, the Kepler team has increased the
number of new exoplanet candidates by 521 from their analysis of
observations conducted from May 2009 to May 2013, raising the
number of planet candidates detected by the Kepler mission to 4,696.
Candidates require follow-up observations and analysis to verify they
are actual planets. Twelve of the new planet candidates have diameters
between one to two times that of Earth and orbit in their star's habitable
zone. Of these, nine orbit stars that are similar to our sun in size and
temperature.

The crew grapples with the ethical implications of their discoveries,

debating whether they should return to Earth with the knowledge gained
or forge a new future on Kepler 452b. This internal struggle poses a
profound question: What does it mean to be human and what
responsibilities do we hold as explorers of the universe?

Regardless of their ultimate decision, the Kepler 452b mission has

changed the course of human history. It ignites a new era of space
exploration, sparking further interest and investment in the search for
habitable exoplanets. Scientists and policymakers collaborate to address
the challenges and opportunities that await humanity beyond Earth.
“We've been able to fully automate our process of identifying planet
candidates, which means we can finally assess every transit signal in the
entire Kepler dataset quickly and uniformly,” said Jeff Coughlin, Kepler
scientist at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California, who led the
analysis of a new candidate catalog. “This gives astronomers a
statistically sound population of planet candidates to accurately
determine the number of small, possibly rocky planets like Earth in our
Milky Way galaxy.” Moreover, astronomical scientists with a deep focus
now are producing the last catalog based on the original Kepler
mission’s four-year data set. The final analysis will be conducted using
sophisticated software that is increasingly sensitive to the tiny telltale
signatures of Earth-size planets.

Kepler 452b remains a symbol of our relentless pursuit of knowledge

and the indomitable human spirit. Its discovery provides hope and
inspiration for generations to come. As humanity ventures farther into
the cosmos, we continue to explore, dream, and discover, always
seeking new worlds and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.