Overview of the LISA mission.

Almost everything we know about the cosmos is based on measurements of different types of light. This includes visible light, but also infrared and ultraviolet radiation, X-rays and radio waves. Recent advances in technology now allow for a completely novel way of studying our Universe, by measuring waves in the fabric of spacetime itself. These ‘gravitational waves’ are created by accelerating masses and travel towards us at the speed of light.  

Invisible gravitational waves constantly cross our Solar System. These waves travel in the fabric of spacetime and thus conventional detectors like our eyes, telescopes and particle detectors cannot observe them. However, recent advances in technology have made measurements possible. Two types of observatories are active on Earth, and ESA is preparing the first mission to study these waves from space.

Measuring gravitational waves in space has never been done. Before ESA could even consider the LISA mission, new technology had to be invented and tested. The LISA Pathfinder mission was constructed to prove that the needed technology would function in space.