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IABG successfully completes qualification tests on LISA Pathfinder satellite

On behalf of Airbus Defence & Space Ltd. (Great Britain), IABG successfully completed the qualification tests on the interferometric gravitation wave detector of LISA Pathfinder.

During environmental testing the applied technology was verified under space conditions. The test programme for the test satellite comprised the examination of mass characteristics, mechanical behaviour under launch conditions, as well as extensive thermal vacuum tests. IABG accomplished the tests on both satellite modules, the so-called “science module” and the “propulsion module”. Both satellite components were integrated in the launch configuration and rigged for the test campaign in the clean areas of the space centre.

After the successfully completed thermal vacuum test on the satellite’s scientific module and the determination of the propulsion module’s mass characteristics, the mechanical test campaign was initiated. Parts of the programme included extensive tests on the satellite’s behaviour under the launch vehicle’s acoustic loads and the examination of the fuel uplift’s pressure load. A concluding determination of the mass characteristics of the scientific module in the final launch configuration was eventually accomplished. After more than five years the campaign has hence come to an end with this test.

The satellite’s primary mission is the proof of feasibility of highly precise measurements of gravitation waves originating from cosmic objects, e.g. massive black holes. Another mission task is the measurement of changes in distance of two reference objects in a range of 10-11m and in a frequency range from 0.001 to 0.1 Hz for future precise distance determination of satellites. LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) is a joint project of the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA.