On a clear night, looking up at the sky reveals thousands of stars. The addition of a telescope uncovers millions more.

The Milky Way hosts an approximate hundred billion stars, massive spheres of hot gas, including our sun. However, the number of stars beyond our galaxy is virtually limitless.

Understanding the observation of stars—formed in vast clouds of gas and dust—is essential not only for grasping their evolution but also for comprehending how the universe itself changes over time, according to astronomers.

So, why not introduce another “star” to the mix, even if it’s artificial?

In a mission supported by $19.5 million from NASA, scientists at George Mason University are set to create and eventually launch a small satellite into orbit. This satellite will be stationed far enough away to appear as a star to Earth-bound telescopes.

This satellite will help researchers study the brightness of stars, yielding more accurate assessments of their size, scale, and age. The ultimate goal is to find new insights into the rate of the universe’s expansion and possibly assess the chances of extraterrestrial life.

“This could transform our understanding and measurement of star characteristics, such as surface temperatures and the potential for life on exoplanets,” commented Eliad Peretz from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, who serves as the mission’s deputy principal investigator.

Let’s delve into NASA’s initiative to deploy an “artificial star” by the close of this decade.

Artificial star will be detectable by ground telescopes

The Landolt NASA Space Mission aims to launch a calibrated light source into orbit, situated 22,236 miles from Earth.

This satellite, or “artificial star,” will not be large, bright, or close enough for unaided human eyes to see. However, it should be visible through telescopes. Named after the late astronomer Arlo Landolt, known for his star catalog, the satellite will spend its first year in orbit matching Earth’s rotational speed, thus remaining positioned over the U.S.

Technically speaking, this small satellite is categorized as a CubeSat, a type of nanosatellite. It will be outfitted with eight lasers to deliver consistent observations on star brightness to mission control based in Fairfax, Virginia, at George Mason, and various observatories.

By providing data that ground telescopes cannot, this artificial star aims to enhance the precision of measuring brightness levels in nearby stars as well as distant supernovae located in remote galaxies, according to Peter Plavchan, an astronomer from George Mason University, in a project-related paper.

“The Landolt mission will enable us to recalibrate the brightness of millions of stars,” Plavchan, the primary investigator for the mission, noted. “Such precise measurements can only be accomplished with a space-based, orbiting artificial star.”

George Mason at the helm of the $19.5 million Landolt NASA Space Mission

Nasa recently approved this mission along with its funding through the Pioneers program.

Although $19.5 million is relatively economical for space missions, this approval marks a significant achievement for George Mason, which will develop and run the mission for NASA.

The university will collaborate with various partners.

Besides NASA, George Mason will join forces with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and ten other universities to create the satellite.

“This is a tremendously exciting opportunity for George Mason and our students,” expressed Peter Pachowicz, an engineering associate professor at the university involved in the Landolt mission. “Our team will be responsible for designing, building, and integrating the payload, which must withstand immense challenges as it ascends to geostationary orbit.”

NASA will oversee and manage the Landolt mission, which is already incorporated into the agency’s fleet.

In the upcoming years, reviews will take place during significant decision milestones, as stated by Plavchan to YSL News. He mentioned that he and his fellow mission operators will deliver monthly updates to NASA.

A specific launch vehicle is expected to be chosen in about two and a half years, according to Plavchan. Since the Landolt satellite is relatively small, it will need to be launched into orbit by attaching it to a larger satellite or a group of small satellites, using a private space company, he added.

Gaining Insights on Habitable Planets

The Landolt mission aims to do more than just characterize the brightness of stars. As the satellite observes the vastness of space, astronomers aspire to gather information about distant Earth-like planets that could potentially support life.

Astronomers have long been captivated by the concept of habitable zones and the numerous ocean worlds believed to inhabit the universe. Next month, NASA is set to launch its largest planetary spacecraft yet to explore Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons, in search of signs that the vast subsurface ocean may provide insights into the possibilities for life beyond our planet.

By collecting information on how stars evolve, the Landolt mission could be essential in identifying habitable zones where planets might have water—an essential component for supporting life. Astronomers fondly refer to these areas as “Goldilocks” zones, where conditions must be perfectly balanced—not too hot and not too cold—allowing water to exist in liquid form on planetary surfaces.

While the discovery of extraterrestrial life would be groundbreaking, determining its presence is complex. This requires careful research and substantial evidence to assess factors such as whether a star emits enough energy and if a planet is positioned suitably to allow life, according to Jamie Tayar, an astronomer at the University of Florida and a collaborator on the Landolt mission.

“There are so many grand questions in astronomy: How did we arrive here? Are there other planets similar to ours? Is life beyond Earth a reality?” Tayar remarked in a statement. “These are challenging questions, and answering them requires exceptionally accurate measurements.”

The team aims to send the “artificial star” into orbit by 2029.

Eric Lagatta writes about breaking and trending topics for YSL News.