NASA to Launch Artificial Star to Revolutionize Astronomical Measurements

The Landolt Space Mission aims to improve telescope calibration for better understanding of the universe.

The $19.5 million mission will deploy a CubeSat equipped with lasers to simulate a star's brightness.
Scheduled for a 2029 launch, the satellite will orbit at 35,785 kilometers, appearing stationary from Earth.
Astronomers will use the artificial star to achieve tenfold accuracy in measuring real celestial objects.
The mission honors Arlo Landolt, a pioneer in stellar brightness catalogs, and involves international collaboration.
Enhanced calibration will aid in studying dark energy, exoplanets, and the universe's expansion rate.