NASA is preparing for its next mission, called the Landolt Space Mission, due to take place before the end of the century. The goal of this mission is to deploy a satellite that will act as an artificial star, with the aim of improving the accuracy of ground-based telescopes and improving our understanding of the universe.
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NASA to launch “artificial star” satellite to help astronomers with space research – pic.twitter.com/tdc8GWMXko
— Press Reporter (@PressReporter07) June 18, 2024
The satellite, scheduled to launch in early 2029, will be about the size of a loaf of bread. Its laboratory will be equipped with eight lasers that emit a range of light from the light of stars to the glow of supernovae. The satellite will serve as a new calibration technique for astronomers, allowing them to improve the performance of the observatory’s telescopes and other instruments, Gadgets 360 reports.
This results in more accurate measurements of real celestial objects.The artificial stellar satellite will be placed 35,785 kilometers above Earth in a geostationary orbit that makes it appear stationary when observed from Earth.
Peter Plavchan, the mission’s principal investigator, said this particular distance was chosen to ensure the moon resembled a real star, according to a news release from George Mason University.
Additionally, a geostationary orbit will allow the satellite to initially remain over the United States, facilitating improved observations by NASA and other independent observatories across the U.S. during its first year of operation.
The artificial star is invisible to the naked eye but can be easily detected with a common telescope equipped with a digital camera, potentially revolutionizing the way astronomers study changes in stellar brightness and other relevant properties.
The Landolt Space Mission, named in honor of Arlo Landolt, a prominent figure in the creation of the stellar brightness catalogue, was formally approved by NASA in February and announced publicly on June 10.
NASA plans to launch an “artificial star” satellite to help astronomers learn about the universe.#NASA
— Gamicaltech (@gamicaltech) June 18, 2024
The mission will involve a team of 30 people, with an estimated cost of $19.5 million, according to the company behind the project. The groundbreaking effort is expected to serve as a more reliable and recognizable reference point for celestial objects, allowing scientists to improve the accuracy of their observations and collect more precise data, ultimately unlocking the mysteries of the universe.
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