Laser Interferometer Space Antenna

Laser Interferometer Space Antenna
Mission typeGravitational waves observation
OperatorESA
Websitewww.lisamission.org
Expedition
Began2035 (planned)
Start of mission
RocketAriane 6
Orbital parameters
Semi-major axis1 AU
Period1 year
EpochPlanned
Cosmic Vision
 

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) is a planned space probe by the European Space Agency

More information

The LISA mission is made to find[1] gravitational waves, tiny waves in the fabric of spacetime from astronomical sources like binary black holes coilliding and a compact binary of stars, and possibly other sources.[2]

The LISA concept has three spacecraft that are in a triangle with each side being 2.5 milion kilometrers long.

Mission

The LISA mission's main objective is to find and study gravitational waves that are made by black holes and others. Each of the three LISA spacecraft has two telescopes, two lasers and two test equipment.

The larger the triangle, the more sensitive the detector is to long gravitational waves.

LISA Pathfinder

A European Space Agency test mission that is called LISA Pathfinder was launched in 2015 to test the things needed for LISA to work.

References

  1. "eLISA, The First Gravitational Wave Observatory in Space". eLISA Consortium. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  2. "eLISA, Partners and Contacts". eLISA Consortium. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.