NASA is preparing for another launch, on Thursday, March 5. The Kepler spacecraft will be the first to look for Earth-like planets: particularly “rocky planets that orbit sun-like stars in a warm zone where liquid water could be maintained on the surface,”В NASA reports.В
Kepler will spend 3.5 years watching one area of space for Earth-like objects. While this may seem like a long time to watch one patch of space, there are over 100,000 stars that resemble the Sun, and therefore may have an Earth-like planet orbiting it.В
The launch will take place at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Fl. The Cape area best known for being a launch site and for the town’s high divorce rate. Its area code was changed to “321” and, while most say this is in reference to the number of launches from the station, it could also be a reference to how long it takes before a spouse walks out the door and heads for greener pastures.