Led by researchers at George Mason University, this $19.5 million mission will allow scientists to calibrate telescopes and more accurately measure the brightness of stars, from those nearby to distant supernova explosions in far-off galaxies.
The mission aims to unravel key astrophysical mysteries, including the speed and acceleration of the universe’s expansion.
Named after late astronomer Arlo Landolt, known for his influential stellar brightness catalogs from the 1970s to the 1990s, the mission will launch an artificial light source into space by 2029. With a known photon emission rate, this artificial star will be observed alongside real stars, allowing researchers to create new stellar brightness catalogs.
The satellite, equipped with eight lasers, will shine on ground-based optical telescopes to calibrate them for more precise observations. While invisible to the naked eye, the artificial star can be seen through a home telescope.
“This mission focuses on measuring fundamental properties essential to astronomical observations,” said Eliad Peretz, NASA Goddard mission and instrument scientist, and deputy principal investigator of the mission. “It may change the way we understand the properties of stars, their surface temperatures, and the habitability of exoplanets.”Orbiting 22,236 miles above Earth, the artificial star will appear as a fixed point to telescopes, matching Earth’s rotational speed and remaining stationary over the U.S. during its first year in space.The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is developing the satellite’s payload, which will be about the size of a breadbox.
Experts hope this mission will lead to breakthroughs in understanding stellar evolution, identifying habitable zones around exoplanets, and refining measurements of dark energy—laying the groundwork for future scientific discoveries.