NASA is set to launch an artificial star into Earth’s orbit by 2029 as part of the groundbreaking Landolt NASA Space Mission. This breadbox-sized satellite will use lasers to mimic real stars, allowing ground-based telescopes to fine-tune their instruments and potentially transform astronomical studies.
Mission Highlights
– **Launch and Purpose**: The mission will send a small satellite, equipped with eight lasers, into orbit by early 2029. These lasers will simulate various stars and supernovae, helping astronomers improve their observations of actual celestial objects. – **Orbital Placement**: Positioned 22,236 miles (35,785 kilometers) above Earth in a geosynchronous orbit, the satellite will remain stationary in the sky. Initially, it will be fixed above the U.S. – **Visibility**: While the artificial star will be too faint for the naked eye, it will be detectable with moderate-sized telescopes and digital cameras.
Scientific Goals
– **Absolute Flux Calibration**: The main objective is to refine the measurement of light emitted by stars, enhancing accuracy to within 0.25% of their true value—ten times better than current capabilities. – **Telescope Collaboration**: Four ground-based telescopes will focus on the artificial star: George Mason University’s 0.8-meter telescope, UH88 at Mauna Kea Observatories, the Hale Telescope at Palomar Observatory, and the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile.
Broader Implications
– **Astronomical Advancements**: Improved stellar measurements could lead to better detection of exoplanets, understanding of stellar evolution, and more precise studies of dark energy and the universe’s expansion rate.
Mission Development
– **Project Team and Cost**: A team of around 30 people will work on the project, with an estimated cost of $19.5 million. The mission was officially approved in February and publicly announced on June 10.
Named after the late Arlo Landolt, who created extensive stellar brightness catalogs, this mission represents a unique hybrid approach, combining space and ground-based technologies to achieve its scientific aims.
