Tag: LISA Pathfinder
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Photos: Experimental LISA Pathfinder probe processed for launch
The European Space Agency’s LISA Pathfinder spacecraft, destined to test the concept of gravitational wave detection a million miles from Earth, is nearly ready for launch Dec. 2. The hexagonal spacecraft, plus a disposable propulsion module to get it to an observation post at the L1 Lagrange point, arrived at Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana…
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Vega booster crowned with gravitational probe pathfinder
LISA Pathfinder and its orbit-raising propulsion module were enclosed inside the Vega rocket’s payload fairing Nov. 16. Credit: ESA-Manuel Pedoussaut, 2015 After criss-crossing Europe for a decade, the LISA Pathfinder satellite testbed has reached its last stop before launch in early December on a mission to demonstrate the delicate technologies required to detect elusive low-frequency gravitational…
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Launch campaign begins for Europe’s trailblazing gravity probe
ESA’s LISA Pathfinder spacecraft is seen inside IABG’s test center near Munich on Aug. 31. Credit: ESA–P. Sebirot, 2015 A compact European space probe, already fitted with a propulsive boost stage to send it a million miles from Earth, has arrived at its French Guiana launch base for liftoff in early December aboard a solid-fueled…
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Arianespace on pace for one launch per month in 2015
The cryogenic core stage for the first Ariane 5 launch of 2015 was installed on its mobile launch platform Nov. 20. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – P. Baudon Last week’s successful launch of a Vega rocket with a European re-entry technology demonstrator marked the first of at least 11 flights planned…