Europe has granted approval for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), an advanced space mission slated for launch in 2035. This cutting-edge gravitational wave detector, developed in collaboration between the European Space Agency and NASA, aims to identify cosmic collisions from the early stages post-Big Bang.
LISA comprises three spacecraft strategically positioned 1.6 million miles apart, forming a triangular configuration of laser light capable of discerning space distortions resulting from impactful interactions involving neutron stars and massive black holes. Employing principles akin to the ground-based Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), which initially detected gravitational waves in 2015, LISA’s significantly larger scale, magnified by a million-fold, will facilitate the detection of lower-frequency gravitational waves. These waves reveal celestial events currently beyond the reach of LIGO.
Nora Lützgendorf, the lead project scientist for LISA, emphasized the necessity of venturing into space for gravitational studies, citing the limitations of ground-based instrumentation in detecting events involving star-sized objects. Due to the extensive distance covered by LISA’s laser signals and the remarkable stability of its instrumentation, the mission is poised to explore lower-frequency gravitational waves, shedding light on cosmic occurrences spanning back to the dawn of time.
Gravitational waves manifest as shock waves in space-time when dense objects like black holes or neutron stars collide. LIGO detects these waves by sensing minute distortions in the fabric of space-time caused as the waves traverse Earth. LISA, however, employs a constellation of three spacecraft, set to be constructed in 2025, housing Rubik’s-cube-sized gold-platinum cubes that emit laser beams into each other’s telescopes millions of miles away.
As these satellites trail Earth in its orbit, any slight disruptions in the distances between them will be detected by LISA and relayed to scientists. By analyzing precise changes in each laser beam, researchers can triangulate the source of gravitational disturbances and direct optical telescopes for further examination. LISA’s unique sensitivity enables scientists to receive advanced warnings of collisions before they become visible to optical telescopes.
This groundbreaking detector promises to offer insights into faint ripples from events during the cosmic dawn, the aftermath of the Big Bang, addressing some of cosmology’s pivotal questions. The collaborative effort between ESA, NASA, and international scientists culminates with the launch of LISA aboard an Ariane 3 rocket in 2035.
