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Fact Sheet:

LAUNCH DATE: 2012  
MISSION END:The operational phase will last about 12 months
LAUNCH VEHICLE:Vega launcher
LAUNCH MASS:1900 kg
MISSION PHASE: Implementation
ORBIT:
Operational orbit is a Halo orbit around the first Earth-Sun Lagrange point (L1) after a transfer trajectory from a low Earth parking orbit
OBJECTIVES:
LISA Pathfinder is to demonstrate the key technologies to be used in the future LISA mission
THE MISSION:
LISA Pathfinder will pave the way for the LISA mission by testing in flight the very concept of the gravitational wave detection: it will put two test masses in a near-perfect gravitational free-fall and control and measure their motion with unprecedented accuracy. This is achieved through state-of-the-art technology comprising the inertial sensors, the laser metrology system, the drag-free control system and an ultra-precise micro-propulsion system.
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
LISA Pathfinder flight-model unit tests
Latest LISA Pathfinder hardware is a little gem
LISA Pathfinder modules at ESTEC for system testing
SPACECRAFT TESTING
19 December 2008
10 November 2008
23 September 2008
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Introduction to LISA Pathfinder
Overview of LISA Pathfinder
LISA Pathfinder (Invited paper - 7th Edoardo Amaldi Conference)
LISA Pathfinder mission report from 37th COSPAR meeting
MULTIMEDIA
 
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