25/10/2024 – Led by NASA and ESA, the LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) mission aims to develop and implement a space-based detector capable of measuring gravitational waves in a frequency range between 0.03 mHz and 0.1 Hz. LISA will detect these waves and provide crucial data for understanding some of the most fascinating phenomena in the universe. Within this framework, HEF photonics (Kerdry) is collaborating with OHB-Italia; the group will supply the GRS optical windows for the satellite platform, into which the gravitational wave detector will be integrated.
The collaboration between HEF photonics and OHB-Italia will take place in two major stages:
- Technical qualification of the entire optical system, ensuring that all components meet the performance and reliability requirements necessary for a space mission.
- The production of the system, which will then be integrated and launched to a specific position in space: the Lagrange 1 point (L1). This point, located on the Earth-Sun trajectory, will be crucial for minimising unwanted gravitational interactions, in order to optimise the accuracy of the measurements made by the detector.
The choice of L1, a stable point in the Earth-Sun system, will enable LISA to operate in an environment optimised for the observation of gravitational waves, with no disturbances caused by the movements of the Earth or other celestial objects.
The LISA mission represents a quantum leap in our understanding of the universe. It combines the most recent technological advances in optical and space detection with ambitious scientific objectives. Through this collaboration with OHB-Italia, HEF Photonics is contributing to a large-scale initiative that could transform our vision of space and fundamental physics.