http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/main/index.html en-us
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The 950 miles is about the distance from New York City to Jacksonville, Fla. With nine boosters aiding the Delta II’s first stage and strategic firings of the second and third stage along the way, it will take the Delta about 65 minutes to make the trip to what is called the Targeting Interface Point. From there, Kepler will drift further away from Earth each day.
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The second stage also uses liquid propellants to fuel its engine. The third stage is powered by solid fuel in which the propellants are mixed into a thick substance and ignited.

Kepler will be released on its own after the third stage burns out and separates. The spacecraft will begin its orbit 950 miles above Earth. From that height, it will follow the Earth and slowly drift farther away from the planet, basically establishing itself in its own orbit around the sun.

Although the orbital mechanics are extremely technical, scientists are shooting for an orbit that keeps Earth from obstructing the view of Kepler’s telescope as it keeps a steady eye on about 100,000 stars in the Milky Way.

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NASA’s Launch Services Program is conducting the liftoff while the United Launch Alliance has provided the Delta II. The U.S. Air Force also has a hand in the launch since it uses the Eastern Range, which the Air Force operates.
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The launch team is working no technical issues and the weather forecast calls for a 100 percent chance of favorable conditions.

Kerosene began pumping into the first stage of the Delta II rocket at 8:15 p.m. and it will be finished loading in about 15 minutes. The launch team will conduct a weather briefing just before 9 p.m. and then begin pumping supercold liquid oxygen into the first stage. The rocket’s first stage engine mixes the propellants during launch to provide the thrust for the first part of flight.
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The launch blog will begin at 8:30 p.m. EST. It will originate tonight from the Mission Director's Center where controllers from NASA's Launch Services Program conduct the countdown.
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