The Kepler Space Telescope was launched by NASA in 2009 to discover Earth-like planets orbiting other stars. It used the transit method, observing the dimming of stars as planets passed in front of them, which allowed scientists to identify thousands of potential exoplanets. Over its mission, Kepler confirmed over 2,300 exoplanets, significantly advancing our understanding of planetary systems. Its discoveries have opened new avenues for research in astrobiology and the search for life beyond Earth, making it one of the most important missions in the field of exoplanet research.