Notes for Editors

LISA Pathfinder is an ESA mission that aims to test several technologies in the LISA Technology Package for a future New Gravitational wave Observatory mission. LISA Pathfinder will demonstrate critical technologies of this future mission in a space environment, such as gravitational reference sensing, drag-free attitude control and interferometry with free-falling mirrors. Launch is scheduled for 2014 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

The measurements were made as part of the on-station thermal test campaign of the LISA Pathfinder flight system. The tests were performed at the Industrieanlagen-Betriebsgesellschaft mbH (IABG) facilities in Ottobrunn, Germany under the responsibility of the LPF Industrial prime contractor, Astrium Ltd, UK. The hardware for the Optical Metrology Subsystem was provided by: Tesat GmbH (laser); Contraves (laser modulator); Kaiser Threde (laser assembly); University of Glasgow (optical bench); University of Birmingham (phase meter); ICE (payload computer).

For further information, please contact:

Paul McNamara
LISA Pathfinder Project Scientist
Directorate of Science and Robotic Exploration, ESA, The Netherlands
Tel: +31 71 5658239
Email: Paul.McNamara@esa.int

Markus Bauer
ESA Science and Robotic Exploration Communication Officer
Tel: +31 71 565 6799, +31 61 594 3 954
Email: markus.bauer@esa.int