NASA has approved the Landolt mission, a $19.5 million project set to launch in 2029, which aims to place an artificial star in orbit around Earth. This artificial star will emit light with a precisely known brightness, allowing scientists to measure the brightness of real stars with significantly improved accuracy.
The mission promises to enhance stellar brightness calculations by over tenfold, aiding in the understanding of planets orbiting these stars and providing insights into dark energy, the mysterious force driving the accelerated expansion of the universe.
David Ciardi, deputy director of NASA's Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI), emphasized the mission's potential, stating that current instruments only accurately measure the true brightness of a small percentage of stars. Landolt aims to improve these measurements, facilitating a better understanding of stars and their planetary systems.
Led by Peter Plavchan, an associate professor of physics and astronomy at George Mason University, the mission will archive data through IPAC and receive support from the Caltech Palomar Observatory. Collaborators include the National Institute of Standards and Technology and several universities.
Named in honor of the late astronomer Arlo Landolt, who compiled stellar brightness catalogs, the mission will position the artificial star at an altitude of 22,236 miles above Earth, allowing it to appear as a star to ground-based telescopes. This orbit enables the satellite to match Earth's rotation, keeping it stationary over the United States for its primary one-year mission.