Headline hyperbole at Science Alert.com: "Nasa is launching" a satellite.

[Tetrachloride]

Headline: NASA Is Launching an 'Artificial Star' Into Orbit Around Earth.

Reality -- planning to launch in 2029. Five years from now. Not next week.

https://www.sciencealert.com/nasa-is-launching-an-artificial-star-into-orbit-around-earth-heres-why

Quote: The mission is scheduled to launch in 2029.

[brush]

1. Don't we already have several hundred, if not thousands of those already?

[Tetrachloride]

2. thousands of satellites, yes. but no precise measurement of their brightness.

[WestMichRad]

3. That will be a very useful tool.

“The CubeSat, named Landolt for the late astronomer Arlo Landolt, will fire lasers with a specific number of light particles, or photons, which astronomers can use to calibrate their telescopes for measuring light.”
We don’t currently have any precise reference point for calibration of telescopes.