Wednesday 5 August 2015

LISA in the news...

Watch the latest edition of SPACE from Euronews featuring an extended piece on LISA Pathfinder with a few familiar faces...

SPACE-Euronews

"The shoe fits" - Fit check with the launch vehicle


Exciting times for LISA pathfinder as the fit check with the Launch vehicle adaptor is successfully completed. 

This adaptor will act as the flight interface between the spacecraft and the Vega rocket.  The fit check is performed just after the manufacture of the adaptor and six or so months before the launch in order to confirm that the interface is correct and that the harness connects properly with the spacecraft enabling the ground operations team to successfully power and control the spacecraft once inside the rocket on the launch tower.
The full LPF Spacecraft atop the Vega launch vehicle adaptor - Image reproduced here with permission from Airbus Defence & Space Ltd.


 

The final piece of the jigsaw...

After many years in the making, the beating heart of the LISA Technology Package has arrived...
An exciting time for everyone involved in the Project.  The exterior doesn't give much away regarding the delicate and highly sensitive instrument contained within it including the two solid gold test masses which will be carefully released, controlled and captured in flight. 

The LISA Instrument Core Assembly - Image reproduced here with permission of Airbus Defence & Space Ltd
 

Installed into the Spacecraft - Image reproduced here with permission of Airbus Defence & Space Ltd