Can Namecoins be mined in the same way as Bitcoins?

Could you elaborate on whether Namecoins, a decentralized domain name system based on blockchain technology, follow a similar mining process as Bitcoins? Are the mining algorithms, difficulty levels, and reward mechanisms comparable? Are there any significant differences in the mining requirements or procedures between the two cryptocurrencies? And lastly, how does the community's perception of Namecoins' mining process impact its overall adoption and use?