LISA Pathfinder passes critical design review

The test mission for LISA reached an important milestone after a rigorous review (AEI-Hannover press release)

Artist's impression of LISA Pathfinder (EADS-Astrium)

Hannover, 23. September 2010. LISA Pathfinder (LPF) passed its final examination at the end of the development phase with flying colors: the whole concept -– from the scientific instruments and the operating system to the space hardware -– stood up to the intense scrutiny of ESA reviewers in a final "Critical Design Review". A launch in late 2012 or early 2013 should now be possible. The Critical Design Review (CDR) was conducted at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) of the European Space Agency (ESA) in Noordwijk, the Netherlands.

Gravitational waves tell of star explosions, the collision of black holes and even the Big Bang itself. The space-based gravitational wave detector LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) will observe the gravitational waves from coalescing binary black holes among other sources, beginning its search for the elusive signals in 2020. Working in conjunction with other astronomical methods and gravitational wave observatories on Earth, we will then be able to observe the unknown and uncharted--—the so-called "Dark Side of the Universe".

LISA Pathfinder will test the technology for observing gravitational waves in space from late 2012 onward, and was now stringently examined itself, including the highly sensitive laser interferometric system, the concept of freely floating test masses, the data transmission software, the control systems, the data-analysis procedures, as well as the rocket, ground segment, satellite guidance and mission logistics.

"LISA Pathfinder is unique---the spacecraft is a scientific and technological tour de force. Once launched, we can't recall it for repairs or to improve on something. So we have to make certain that all components will survive the conditions of launch and space flight intact and that they will all work and interact as planned", explains Prof. Dr. Karsten Danzmann, director at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) . "So we have been reviewing the whole mission in all stages of development right from the start, together with ESA and independent referees. We know what each individual component is supposed to be doing and we compare the projected numbers with the actual test performance. This final review did not spring any surprises on us and we are very pleased with the result", continues Danzmann, who is also one of the two Principal Investigators for LISA Pathfinder and the LISA spokesperson for Europe.

Read the full press release, or find out more about LISA Pathfinder at the AEI-Hannover website.