LISA is a groundbreaking mission, led by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with NASA, to develop the largest observatory ever built. It consists of three satellites in a triangular formation, each 2.5 million kilometres apart, and aims to detect gravitational waves. Gravitational waves are formed by extreme cosmic events such as the merger of black holes and create ripples in the fabric of space-time.
LISA stands for Laser Interferometer Space Antenna. Each satellite will emit a laser towards the other two and measure tiny changes in the distance between satellites due to gravitational waves. Despite the enormous distance between the satellites (six times the distance from the Earth to the Moon), the sophisticated optical instruments on board can pick up changes smaller than the size of a helium atom and hence detect gravitational waves.
The results from the mission will shed light on what happens when black holes collide and provide insight into the origins of the universe, immediately after the Big Bang.
Two Galway-based companies, ATG Innovation and EireComposites, will play key roles in the LISA mission. ATG will design the central tube (the chassis of the satellite) based on its patented lightweight, high-stiffness, grid-stiffened structural architecture, and EireComposites will manufacture and assemble the structure.
This work will encompass everything from the manufacture of test components and structural assemblies to autoclave curing, bonding, and precision machining. Detailed inspections will be carried out to make sure each part meets strict aerospace standards, using non-destructive testing and dimensional checks throughout the build.
By combining advanced computational modelling, hands-on manufacturing, and meticulous quality control, the partners will deliver reliable, high-performance structures that are central to the success of the LISA project.
Jacob Pasqualotto, Director of Operations at ATG Engineering, commented, “Leading the Irish contribution to LISA alongside OHB and ÉireComposites is a privilege and a responsibility we embrace with pride. This mission takes gravitational-wave astronomy beyond Earth, extending our reach into the vast low-frequency universe where supermassive black holes and cosmic giants reveal their secrets. For us, this is more than engineering; it is Ireland’s signature on the future of astrophysics.
Tomas Flanagan, CEO of ÉireComposites, added, “Nearly everything we know about the universe comes from telescopes; LISA provides a completely different approach by focusing on gravitational waves instead of light. It’s hard to believe that we’ll be making structural carbon-fibre components for the largest machine that humanity has ever built and that we will be seeking evidence to support Einstein’s general theory of relativity. The fact that we’ve been chosen by ESA to partner with ATG for this mission is a huge endorsement of EireComposites, ATG and the Irish Space industry in general.”
LISA Space Mission: Detecting Gravitational Waves
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