Chasing ripples in the fabric of spacetime
In short: Watch the launch of LISA Pathfinder, a mission designed to test the technology needed to detect gravitational waves. This video captures the start of a journey to achieve the most precise free-fall ever recorded in space.
Launched on December 3, 2015, from French Guiana, LISA Pathfinder was designed to test the fundamental technology for observing gravitational waves—ripples in spacetime predicted by Albert Einstein but never before directly detected.
The spacecraft travels to a stable point called L1, roughly 1.5 million km from Earth toward the Sun. There, it aims to achieve an unprecedented level of free-fall by neutralizing all non-gravitational forces acting on two cubes, monitoring their motion with extreme accuracy to pave the way for future space-based observations.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: LISA Pathfinder liftoff
- Also: Liftoff for LISA Pathfinder - LISA Pathfinder - Science Portal
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/space-lisa-pathfinder-liftoff.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Space agencies · More in Space · Latest · A–Z · All topics
