Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), a flagship mission led by the European Space Agency (ESA) with support from NASA, is set to become the largest space-based observatory ever engineered. The program will deploy three satellites arranged in a vast triangular formation, spaced 2.5 million kilometers apart, to capture gravitational waves, subtle ripples in space-time triggered by high-energy cosmic events such as black hole mergers. As part of this effort, the project focuses on building structural carbon-fibre components for what will effectively be the largest machine humanity has ever constructed.
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.
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.
Jacob Pasqualotto, Director of Operations at ATG Engineering, commented: "Leading the Irish contribution to LISA alongside OHB and EireComposites is a privilege and a responsibility we embrace with pride. This mission takes gravitational-wave astronomy beyond Earth."
Tomas Flanagan, CEO of EireComposites, added: "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."
Source: eirecomposites-atg
