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    • NASA unveils telescopes for 3 spacecraft to be launched on LISA mission
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    NASA unveils telescopes for 3 spacecraft to be launched on LISA mission

    Umito Posted on

    The prototype telescopes revealed by NASA will play a vital role in the LISA mission by helping the spacecraft’s trio of lasers link with each other, which will help discover gravitational waves.

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    • The trio of space probes will detect and measure gravitational waves coming from places such as smaller stellar-mass black holes orbiting supermassive black holes.
    • By studying the data collected by the probes, scientists hope to learn more not only about black holes, but also about the Big Bang, theorized to be the source of the universe.
    • Each of the three probes will be equipped with a pair of telescopes provided by NASA, the prototypes of which the space agency unveiled on Tuesday.

    NASA has unveiled a prototype of six telescopes that, in the coming years, will be part of a first-of-its-kind mission to study a cosmic phenomenon that could hold clues to some of the the greatest mysteries of the universe.

    The LISA mission, led by the European Space Agencyaims to send a fleet of three space probes into orbit to study gravitational waves, or distortions of space-time caused by violent events like colliding black holes. When the mission launches in more than a decade, the probes will spend at least four years tracking Earth’s orbital path while scanning the cosmos for the phenomenon.

    Telescope prototypes that NASA revealed will play a vital role in the LISA mission by helping the spacecraft’s trio of lasers link with each other, which will help discover gravitational waves.

    Here’s what you need to know about the LISA mission and NASA’s contribution:

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    What is LISA’s mission?

    LISA is envisioned as the first space observatory dedicated to observing gravitational waves, a cosmic phenomenon that could hold clues to the mysteries of the universe.

    First theorized in 1916 by Albert Einsteingravitational waves are ripples the fabric of space-time created during some of the most powerful events in the universe, including the merger or collision of supermassive black holes.

    The acronym that LISA stands for is a bit long – Laser Interferometer Space Antenna – but in essence, the space probes will detect and measure gravitational waves coming from places such as smaller stellar mass black holes orbiting supermassive black holes.

    While gravitational waves were detected by ground observatories in recent years – including that of NASA LIGO and the European Virgin Observatory – only a space observatory can detect waves at lower frequencies, according to the ESA.

    The mission will deploy three spacecraft that will travel the universe, separated by approximately 1.5 million miles while flying in a triangular formation. The probes will track more than 30 million miles behind Earth as our planet orbits the sun while relaying signals that, when combined, look for gravitational wave signatures.

    By studying the data collected by the probes, scientists hope to learn more not only about black holesbut even the Big Bang is theorized to be how the universe began.

    “The study of gravitational waves offers enormous potential for discovering parts of the universe that are invisible by other means,” NASA says on its website on the mission. “LISA will complete our knowledge of the beginning, evolution and structure of our universe.”

    NASA unveils telescope prototypes for LISA

    Each of the three probes will be equipped with a pair of telescopes provided by NASA, said Ryan DeRosa, a researcher at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

    Telescope prototypes, manufactured and assembled by L3Harris Technologies in Rochester, New York, arrived at Goddard in May, NASA said. NASA unveiled the prototypes Tuesday, which DeRosa said “will guide us as we work on building the flight hardware.”

    The main mirror is coated in gold to reflect infrared lasers and help minimize the amount of heat lost when the surface is exposed to the frigid conditions of space, according to NASA.

    German company Schott manufactures the material the prototype is made of – an amber-colored glass ceramic called Zerodur. The material is popular for telescope mirrors and other technologies that need to be precise because it is able to maintain its shape even when exposed to a wide range of temperatures.

    When will LISA launch?

    The LISA mission is still far from its planned launch date in 2035.

    In fact, construction isn’t even expected to begin until January 2025, once the project manager is chosen, according to the ESA.

    When the network heads to space, it will be on board an Ariane 6 launch system which ESA helped develop takeoff from Europe Spaceport in French Guiana.

    Eric Lagatta covers the latest news and trends for USA TODAY. Contact him at [email protected]

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