This timelapse video shows teams from ESA and Airbus Defence and Space (the prime contractor for LISA Pathfinder) carrying out a simulation of the commissioning of the LISA Technology Package, the scientific heart of the mission. The simulation took place at ESA’s European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany, on 23 and 24 September 2015. The video spans about two hours on the morning of 23 September.

The scientists and engineers are grouped to represent the different spacecraft subsystems.

In the foreground are Paul McNamara, LISA Pathfinder ESA Project Scientist, and Stefano Vitale, LISA Pathfinder Principal Investigator. At the same desk, to their left, is the representative of the Science and Technology Operations Centre (STOC) station, and further to the left the following subsystems are represented: Optical Metrology System (OMS), UV Light Unit (ULU), Data Management Unit (DMU), and Inertial sensor front-end electronics (ISS FEE).

On the right side are representatives of the ESA project team, Airbus Defence and Space Ltd and Airbus Defence and Space GmbH (from top to bottom, respectively). At the centre of the room is the ‘hot desk’ space, where the team members can discuss and work on specific issues.

More about the commissioning of the spacecraft and its scientific instruments: Lights on for LISA Pathfinder