lisa pathfinder All the space you need - Astrium - Eads

lisa
All the space you need
lisa pathfinder
The LISA Pathfinder mission is a technology demonstrator mission that will test a series of ultra-high
precision technologies to be used on a later, and much larger, international project LISA (Laser Interferometric
Space Antenna), for which the European Space Agency is preparing a leading European role.
LISA Pathfinder will carry out in-orbit testing of these key technologies including the micro-propulsion systems,
the drag-free control systems and the technologies associated with the payload. There are two payload test
packages, one from ESA funded by national institutes and universities and drawn together under the auspices
of Astrium GmbH as the LTP architect, whilst the second payload is provided by NASA.
The primary LISA mission will measure gravitational waves generated by exotic cosmic events such as collapsing
binary star systems and the collision of massive black holes. Through LISA Pathfinder, EADS Astrium will
augment its proven capability in astronomy and planetary exploration by development of the know-how for
space-based fundamental physics exploration.

7321tl oct 08 © Astrium, images © Astrium
Customer European Space Agency
Mission Technology demonstration for the future LISA mission – to detect relative
movement of two solid bodies freely floating in space with accuracy of
10 picometers
Orbit 500 000 x 800 000km Halo orbit around L1
Spacecraft • Spacecraft mass: 450kg
• Propulsion module including fuel: 1420kg
Payload • The LISA Test Package (LTP)
• The Disturbance Reduction System (DRS) from JPL/NASA
Features 2 gold platinum cubes of 46mm
NASA JPL CFE. Measurement of SL position @ millionth of mm.
Launch Mass 1910kg
Dimensions 2.7m high by 2.1m diameter
Launch Date 2011
Mission Duration After calibration at the L1 position, the in-flight demonstration of the LISA
technology will take 90 days for the LTP and 85 days for the DRS
Status Implementation started Feb 2004
Development started Feb 2006
Astrium Responsibilities • Prime contractor
• System and platform design and build
• Drag-Free Attitude Control System (DFACS)
• LISA Test Package (LTP) industrial lead (separate ESA contract)
Key Features:
drag-free and attitude Control system
The mission objective is to verify that a test mass can be kept on-board the spacecraft “free-floating” to
within 3x10 -14 ms -2 , this means that there must be no mechanical contact and the electrical, magnetic, thermal
and gravitational internal forces must be below 3x10 -14 ms -2 . To achieve this, the position and rotation of the
test mass is monitored and the attitude control system calculates the necessary forces and torques to apply
to the spacecraft to maintain a steady position and orientation of the test mass within its housing. Even the
pressure of the solar wind must be compensated for.
lisa test paCkage
The LTP represents one arm of the LISA interferometer, in which the distance between the two test masses
is reduced from 5 million kilometres to 35 centimetres. The LTP drag-free control system consists of an inertial
sensor, a proportional micro-propulsion system and a control loop. The two identical 46mm cube test masses
are housed in individual vacuum cans. The displacement of the cubes with respect to their housing is measured
by capacitive sensing in three dimensions. These position signals are used in a feedback loop to command
proportional micro-propulsion thrusters to enable the spacecraft to remain centred on the proof mass. Field
Emission Electric Propulsion (FEEP) thrusters will be used as actuators.
drs
The DRS is a NASA supplied instrument. The DRS will use the sensor information of the LTP (test masses
position and attitude) to control the spacecraft attitude with independent drag-free software and will use
colloidal thrusters as actuators.
For more information please contact:
Elizabeth Seward, Marketing Manager
Earth Observation & Science Division
astrium satellites
Gunnels Wood Road
Stevenage
Hertfordshire
SG1 2AS
United Kingdom
PHONE: +44 (0) 1438 778060
FAX: +44 (0) 1438 778910
EMAIL: elizabeth.seward@astrium.eads.net www.astrium.eads.net
lisa pathfinder science structure equipped with
mass dummies
industrial team
aBsl (aea)
astrium
scisys
honeywell
ssBV
oerlikon
saaB
Crisa
eads Casa
rymsa
teChnologiCa
dnV
patria
fmi
thales alenia space
galileo avionica
alta
astrium
Zarm
rWe
thales alenia space
astrium
terma
alcatel alenia etCa
spaCeBel
austrian aerospace
siemens
arCs
Critical software