Produced by: Manoj Kumar
A $19.5M mission by George Mason University is launching an artificial “star” into orbit to unlock the secrets of the universe’s expansion and refine telescopes for the sharpest stargazing ever imagined.
Named for legendary astronomer Arlo Landolt, the mission will shine a light—literally—emitting photons with pinpoint accuracy to rewrite how we measure stars and distant galaxies.
Orbiting 22,236 miles above Earth, the artificial star will hover perfectly over the U.S., creating a celestial beacon for scientists to test groundbreaking astrophysical tools.
“This is more than a star—it’s a revolution,” said NASA’s Eliad Peretz, predicting it will reshape how we study stars, temperatures, and even alien worlds in the hunt for life.
With eight lasers beaming back to Earth, the artificial star will slash through atmospheric interference, delivering celestial data with unparalleled accuracy for the first time ever.
George Mason students aren’t just learning—they’re building! This payload, bound for the heavens, will test their skills in engineering for extreme conditions in geostationary orbit.
By nailing photon measurements to 0.25% accuracy, the mission will answer age-old questions about stars, dark energy, and how the cosmos itself is evolving over time.
From NASA to Caltech, this mission brings together global minds to rewrite the rules of astrophysics, proving collaboration fuels innovation among the stars.
“Every photon counts,” says NIST’s Susana Deustua. “With this mission, we’ll answer cosmic questions: How far? How bright? Are we alone? The universe just got closer.”