<p>I've noticed that many stars in GAIA DR2 have highly uncertain distances. Why can't a space agency send multiple Gaia spacecraft into orbit around different places (One in L2 Earth, one in heliosynchronous orbit, and one around Jupiter) so the accuracy  of observations can be greatly improved?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-25T09:40:43.813Z
In the funding-doesn't-play-a-role-fairyland, sure they would to that.
AtmosphericPrisonEscape
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-25T09:57:40.710Z
Satellites are not cheap to build. Satellites are not cheap to launch. Satellites are not cheap to operate. Data from satellites is not cheap to process. Need I say more?
David Hammen
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-25T15:18:37.060Z
The premise that ESA "can't" isn't really true, they probably could if they had enough money and resources for it. It might be better to adjust your question and ask in what ways, and by how much would a second GAIA out at 5 AU improve data, and what the technical challenges would be. You might be surprised!
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-25T15:21:40.723Z
This is a different question but it's related: [How would 2 JWSTs make stereo pictures?](https://space.stackexchange.com/q/35548/12102)
uhoh
<orbit><deep-sky-observing><gaia><lagrange-point>
Why can't ESA/NASA build a handful of Gaia telescopes and launch them into different positions in space for better accuracy?
WarpPrime
# Why can't ESA/NASA build a handful of Gaia telescopes and launch them into different positions in space for better accuracy?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-01-25)

I've noticed that many stars in GAIA DR2 have highly uncertain distances. Why can't a space agency send multiple Gaia spacecraft into orbit around different places (One in L2 Earth, one in heliosynchronous orbit, and one around Jupiter) so the accuracy of observations can be greatly improved?

**Tags:** orbit, deep-sky-observing, gaia, lagrange-point
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: In the funding-doesn't-play-a-role-fairyland, sure they would to that.  
> **username_2**: Satellites are not cheap to build. Satellites are not cheap to launch. Satellites are not cheap to operate. Data from satellites is not cheap to process. Need I say more?  
> **username_3**: The premise that ESA "can't" isn't really true, they probably could if they had enough money and resources for it. It might be better to adjust your question and ask in what ways, and by how much would a second GAIA out at 5 AU improve data, and what the technical challenges would be. You might be surprised!  
> **username_3**: This is a different question but it's related: [How would 2 JWSTs make stereo pictures?](https://space.stackexchange.com/q/35548/12102)  

---

## 0 answers

