LOFT, the Large Observatory For X-ray Timing, is a newly proposed space mission intended to answer fundamental questions about the motion of matter orbiting close to the event horizon of a black hole, and the state of matter in neutron stars.

LOFT was selected by ESA in February 2011 as one of the four M3 space missions concepts of the Cosmic Vision programme. LOFT is presently in the assessment phase, and is competing for a launch opportunity at the start of the 2020s together with the other mission candidates.

LOFT is being specifically designed to answer two fundamental questions of ESA's Cosmic Vision Theme 'Matter under extreme conditions', namely:

• Does matter orbiting close to the event horizon follow the predictions of general relativity?
• What is the equation of state of matter in neutron stars?
   

The preliminary agenda of the LOFT Sp14 meeting foresees the following sessions, which are concluded by an open discussion:

• The LOFT mission
• Presentations of LOFT Core Science: Dense Matter and Strong Field Gravity
• LOFT as Observatory