Lagrange Points: Parking Places in Space

Lagrange points, named after the 18th-century mathematician who deduced their positions, are rare places of equilibrium in our constantly shifting universe. They are places where all gravitational and apparent forces balance out to maintain a constant distance from massive bodies pulling on an object. Lagrange points are celestial parking spaces, and once an object is there, it requires little to no energy to stay put.

There are over 1,000 Lagrange points in our solar system, but only a few are useful for human purposes, and only two are heavily used by humans - L1 and L2. The answer to what exactly should be parked in them depends on where each point is. For instance, L1 is the perfect place for solar-observing satellites, while L2 is the perfect spot to observe outer space. L4 and L5 are the most stable parking spots, and that’s why points like these naturally accumulate space objects, such as the Sun-Jupiter set’s L4 and L5, which host thousands of asteroids. 

Every Lagrange point has its quirks - some might be perfect for scavenging construction materials from drifting asteroids, others might make ideal gas stations for ships headed to deep space, or even host entire human colonies. These points are already home to advanced technological achievements, but soon, they could become our stepping stones to the stars.

(Source: TED)