Industrial contributions to LISA Pathfinder
ESA's LISA Pathfinder, a mission to validate the technology needed for the first generation of space-based gravitational wave detectors, is being built by an industrial team led by the prime contractor, Airbus Defence and Space Ltd.
Airbus Defence and Space GmbH is responsible for providing the integrated LISA Technology Package (LTP) payload. The subsystems for the LTP are provided by a consortium of European companies and research institutes.
The tables below list the industrial team involved in the LISA Pathfinder mission, arranged by country and company name.
In addition to the LTP, LISA Pathfinder will also carry the Disturbance Reduction System (DRS), which is provided by NASA-JPL.
| Table 1: European contributions to the LISA Pathfinder spacecraft |
|
|
Austria |
|
Austrian Aerospace (RUAG) |
Thermal Hardware |
|
Austrian Research Center |
Subcontracted contribution to the Needle Field Emission Electric-Propulsion (FEEP) Technology |
|
Siemens AG.OESTERREICH |
Radio Frequency Special Check-out Equipment |
|
|
Belgium |
|
SpaceBel |
On Board Software subcontractor |
| Thales Alenia Space |
Power Subsystem Special Check-out Equipment |
|
|
Denmark |
|
Terma A/S |
Star Tracker |
|
|
Finland |
|
PATRIA AVIATION OY SYSTEMS |
Solar Array subcontractor |
|
|
France |
|
Thales Alenia Space France (TAS-F) |
Solar Array |
|
|
Germany |
|
Airbus Defence and Space GmbH – Friedrichshafen |
Drag-Free Attitude Control System (DFACS) |
|
Airbus Defence and Space GmbH – Friedrichshafen |
On Board Computer |
| EUROCKOT |
Feasibility studies for the LISA Pathfinder Launch Service on Rockot Launch Vehicle |
|
European Test Services |
Environmental Tests |
| IABG |
Environmental Tests |
| IFR, University of Stuttgart |
Drag-Free Attitude Control System (DFACS) |
|
RWE AZURSPACE SOLAR POWER GmbH |
Solar Array subcontractor |
|
ZARM |
Drag-Free Attitude Control System (DFACS) subcontractor |
|
|
Italy |
|
Selex ES |
Digital Sun sensor |
| Selex ES |
Solar Array subcontractor |
| Thales Alenia Space Italia SpA (TAS-I) |
Transponders |
|
|
Netherlands |
|
Satellite Services BV |
Radio Frequency SCOE subcontractor |
|
|
Norway |
|
DET NORSKE VERITAS |
Independent Software Verification and Validation (ISVV) facility |
|
|
Portugal |
|
CRITICAL SOFTWARE SA |
Independent Software Verification and Validation (ISVV) facility subcontractor |
|
|
Spain |
|
EADS CASA Espacio |
Harness |
|
Alter Technology |
Parts Procurement Agent |
| Rymsa |
Low Gain Antenna and Medium Gain Antenna |
|
EADS Astrium Crisa |
Power Conditioning and Distribution Unit (PCDU) |
|
EADS Astrium Crisa |
On Board Computer subcontractor |
|
|
United Kingdom |
|
ABSL |
Batteries |
|
Scisys Ltd |
On Board Software |
| Airbus Defence and Space Ltd - Stevenage |
Spacecraft System Prime Contractor |
|
|
Sweden |
|
RUAG Space AB |
Separation system |
|
|
Switzerland |
|
RUAG Space |
Subcontracted contribution to the Slit Field Emission Electric-Propulsion (FEEP) Technology |
|
RUAG Space |
Science Spacecraft Structure |
| Table 2: European contributions to the LISA Pathfinder LISA Technology Package |
|
|
Austria |
|
MAGNA STEYR |
Caging Mechanism |
|
|
France |
|
AOC Université Paris |
Laser Modulator Architecture |
|
|
Germany |
|
Albert Einstein Institute, Hannover |
Co-Principal Investigator, Interferometer design |
|
Airbus Defence and Space GmbH – Friedrichshafen |
LISA Technology Package Architect |
|
Kaiser Threde |
Laser Assembly |
|
|
Italy |
|
University of Trento |
Principal Investigator, Inertial Sensor Design |
|
CGS |
Inertial Sensor Subsystem |
|
CGS |
Electrode Housing |
| Thales Alenia Space |
Caging Mechanism Control Unit |
| Thales Alenia Space |
Test Mass |
|
|
Netherlands |
|
SRON |
ISS Special Check-Out Equipment |
|
|
Spain |
|
GMV |
Independent Software Verification and Validation |
|
Instituto de Ciencias del Espacio |
Data Management Unit |
|
University of Barcelona |
Data Diagnostic System |
| NTE – SENER |
Data Management Unit subcontractor |
|
|
Switzerland |
|
ETH Zurich |
ISS Front-End Electronics Architecture |
|
RUAG Space |
Laser Modulator |
|
RUAG Space |
Caging and Venting Mechanism |
|
RUAG Space |
Grabbing, Positioning and Release Mechanism |
|
|
United Kingdom |
|
University of Birmingham |
Phasemeter Assembly |
|
Mullard Space Science Laboratory |
Photodiodes |
|
University of Glasgow |
Optical Bench |
|
Interferometer |
|
| Imperial College London | Charge Management System |