European Space Agency (ESA) has officially kicked off its Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission, a groundbreaking space-based observatory dedicated to studying gravitational waves. The 839 million Euro contract, awarded to OHB System AG, marks a significant milestone in the development of this ambitious endeavor.
The LISA spacecraft will be launched into space in mid-2035 and will consist of three identical spacecraft that will fly in a triangular formation around the Earth’s orbit. Each side of the equilateral triangle will span 2.5 million kilometers, creating a unique constellation to study the universe.
The mission is designed to capture gravitational waves, which were predicted by Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity. The LISA spacecraft will use laser interferometry to track tiny changes in space-time caused by these waves, enabling scientists to test the laws of physics and explore fundamental nature of gravity.
LISA represents a monumental leap in astrophysics, with potential breakthroughs in understanding massive black holes, cosmic expansion, and the universe’s origins. The mission is an international collaboration between ESA, NASA, and scientific consortia from around the world.
Key hardware elements are being procured by various countries, including free-falling test masses from Italy and Switzerland, and picometer-accuracy systems from Germany, the UK, France, and others. The mission marks a significant achievement in precision engineering and international cooperation.
As the first space-based observatory designed to capture gravitational waves, LISA is poised to revolutionize our understanding of the universe. With its launch expected in 2035, humanity is on the cusp of a new era in astrophysics.
Source: https://www.ohb.de/en/news/ohb-to-construct-a-pioneering-spacecraft-constellation-to-capture-gravitational-waves