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| LISA Pathfinder takes major step in hunt for gravitational waves |
| Sensors destined for ESA's LISA Pathfinder mission in 2014 have far exceeded expectations, paving the way for a mission to detect one of the most elusive forces permeating through space - gravitational waves. |
| Date: 14 Nov 2011 |
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| Picometre precision demonstrated by LISA Pathfinder tests |
| A European team working on the LISA Pathfinder mission has completed an extensive series of ground tests on the spacecraft's optical payload. The tests successfully achieved - for the first time on a spacecraft instrument - the incredible precision that will be required to confirm the existence of gravitational waves. |
| Date: 21 Oct 2010 |
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| Magnetic moment testing of LISA Pathfinder flight-model units |
| Flight-model units for the LISA Pathfinder spacecraft are undergoing a series of tests to determine their magnetic characteristics. The purpose of the tests is to ensure that the stringent magnetic cleanliness requirements of the LISA Pathfinder mission will be met. |
| Date: 10 Nov 2009 |
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| Latest LISA Pathfinder hardware is a little gem |
| A stunning sapphire and gold casket is the latest addition to the LISA Pathfinder flight hardware collection. Designed to house the LISA Technology Package proof masses the casket is now undergoing experiment characterisation tests in Italy. |
| Date: 18 Nov 2008 |
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| LISA Pathfinder modules at ESTEC for system testing |
| The science and propulsion modules of LISA Pathfinder have arrived at ESTEC for a series of system tests. These are devised to validate the spacecraft design parameters and to record the response of the LISA Pathfinder hardware to the launch environment by measuring acceleration loads on the spacecraft. The test campaign will continue until the end of 2008. |
| Date: 20 Aug 2008 |
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| Science Module Structure Arrives at Astrium UK |
| The Protoflight Model of the Science Module structure built by Oerlikon Space AG has been delivered to Astrium UK at the beginning of June 2007. |
| Date: 27 Jun 2007 |
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| Science Spacecraft Structure Assembly |
| The extremely stable structure of the Science Module of LISA Pathfinder is being manufactured and assembled in Oerlikon Space AG of Zürich, Switzerland. |
| Date: 12 Mar 2007 |
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| First LISA Pathfinder Flight Unit Ready for Delivery on 8 February |
| The first flight units for the LISA Pathfinder program are imminently nearing completion. All three Digital Sun Sensor's (DSS) have now completed manufacture and are currently undergoing final testing at supplier Galileo Avionica. |
| Date: 01 Feb 2007 |
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| LISA Pathfinder Spacecraft Test Phase about to Start |
| The first test article of the LISA Pathfinder spacecraft, the Development Model (DM) of the On Board Computer (OBC) has arrived at the prime contractor facilities of Astrium Ltd, Stevenage, UK in the last week of December 2006. |
| Date: 09 Jan 2007 |
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| LISA Pathfinder Enters Design Phase |
| On 16 February 2006, the ESA Mission Preliminary Design Review Board declared that the LISA Pathfinder mission is ready to proceed into the next implementation phase: the detailed design phase or Phase C. |
| Date: 20 Feb 2006 |
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| ESA and EADS Astrium sign contract to build the LISA Pathfinder spacecraft |
SNR 12-2004
Yesterday the European Space Agency (ESA) and EADS Astrium have signed the 80 million Euro contract to build the LISA Pathfinder spacecraft. Scheduled for launch in 2008, LISA Pathfinder will test in orbit a series of high-precision technologies essential for the future LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) project. This is a joint ESA/NASA mission which will try to detect gravitational waves, testing the fundamental theories of gravitation.
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| Date: 24 Jun 2004 |
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| ESA takes another step towards the search for Earth-like planets and gravitational waves |
| CASA and Astrium UK start to work on ESA's future mission SMART-2
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| Date: 27 Sep 2001 |
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