Date: 30/10/2016 18:55:49
From: CrazyNeutrino
ID: 974435
Subject: ESA plans space mission to detect gravity waves

<ESA plans="" next="" major="" space="" mission="" to="" detect="" gravity="" waves="" a="">

The problem with gravity waves is that having finally detected them after a century of trying, scientists now have to figure out what to do with them. To this end, ESA is soliciting proposals from European scientist for its eLISA L3 space mission slated to launch in 2034. Part of ESA’s Cosmic Vision plan, the eLISA invitation is based on recommendations from the Gravitational Observatory Advisory Team convened in 2014, which called for a multi-satellite mission using free-falling tests masses linked over millions of kilometers as a means of detecting gravity waves.

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Date: 30/10/2016 20:41:11
From: mollwollfumble
ID: 974462
Subject: re: ESA plans space mission to detect gravity waves

LISA Pathfinder exceeds expectations almost everywhere.

The sensor noise is good enough (0.05 Hz and higher).
The noise due to incomplete venting to space 0.0006 Hz to 0.05 Hz) is almost good enough, just needs more venting time.
The noise due to the star-tracker and spacecraft rotation (below 0.0006 Hz) is not quite good enough yet, ESA is looking into methods for reducing this noise.

The lessons from LISA will eventually be used in 2034’s eLISA. This is ESA’s “L3 mission” (L for Large) and will follow the 2028 launch of ESA’s L2 mission, which will be an advanced X-ray observatory. It will use a constellation of three spacecraft, which will fly in formation to form a high precision Michelson interferometer floating in outer space with a baseline of one million km (620,000 miles).

It looks like LISA has now been renamed eLISA, not quite sure why they’re “soliciting for proposals” (worrying turn of phrase there). The configuration and specifications for eLISA should have been worked out long ago.

More on LISA/eLISA at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolved_Laser_Interferometer_Space_Antenna

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