Following a successful launch from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the Kepler mission has now begun. Scientists are eagerly waiting for Kepler to execute its mandatory maneuvers and begin searching for analog Earths in other corners of our galaxy.

The goal of the Kepler mission is to explore the structure and diversity of the extrasolar planetary systems, by observing a large number of stars in our galaxy. Kepler will try to determine the frequency of terrestrial and larger planets in or near the habitable zones of these stars.

Furthermore, it will attempt to determine the distribution of sizes and orbital semi-major axes of these planets, as well as estimate the frequency of planets and orbital distribution of planets in multiple-stellar systems.

Other goals include determining the distribution of semi-major axis, albedo, size, mass and density of short-period giant planets, determining the properties of the stars that harbor planetary systems, and identifying additional members of each photometrically discovered planetary system using complementary techniques.

Kepler will first study the so-called “hot Jupiters,” the gas giants that circle close and fast around their stars. The next planets to study will probably be Neptune-like planets, followed by rocky planets, among which scientists hope to identify analog Earths.

The mission will last for three and a half years, since it will take at least three years to discover and confirm the existence of Earth-like planets, NASA said. Kepler’s mission will properly begin in two months’ time.