The mission to launch a new artificial star by NASA will pave the way for researchers to explore space in the universe.
As concerns about light pollution and its impact on observing the universe continue to rise, some scientists have devised a plan to address this issue. NASA experts aim to launch an artificial star into orbit by the end of this decade.
A laser beam on the satellite will make the object shine like an artificial star. (Photo: ESO).
According to NASA, they will launch a satellite shaped like a square box into orbit. This satellite will orbit the Earth at an exact distance of 22,236 miles (35,785 km) from the surface.
This process will place the object in a geostationary orbit, meaning it will match the Earth’s rotation and remain fixed in the night sky. In the first year of the mission, researchers will keep this fixed point above the United States.
Additionally, they will utilize lasers on the satellite to make it function as an artificial star. These lasers will emit light directly to ground-based telescopes, simulating various stars or supernovae in the universe. Consequently, researchers can adjust their methods of studying and observing specific cosmic phenomena.
According to BGR, this is a feasible idea expected to bring many improvements in how humans explore the universe in the future. Moreover, this “artificial star” will not significantly affect the night sky. The researchers behind the project state that it will be more than 100 times dimmer than objects visible to the naked eye.
However, stargazers will still be able to see it using mid-sized telescopes. Currently, scientists hope this idea can be realized by 2029.
At present, researchers have announced that the new mission may involve a team of 30 people and is estimated to cost around $19.5 million. This figure is relatively modest when compared to other missions that NASA has conducted on Mars.
