ÉireComposites, ATG Europe brings composites expertise to LISA project

ÉireComposites Teo (Galway, Ireland) and ATG Europe Ltd. (Noordwijk, Netherlands) have announced a key role in Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), a mission led by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with NASA to develop the largest observatory ever built.

LISA consists of three satellites in a triangular formation, each 2.5 million kilometers apart. Each satellite will emit a laser toward the other two and measure tiny changes in the distance between satellites via the detection of gravitational waves — formed by extreme cosmic events such as the merger of black holes that create ripples in the fabric of space-time.

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 immediately after the Big Bang.

ATG will design the central tube (the chassis of the satellite) based on its patented lightweight, high-stiffness, grid-stiffened structural composite architecture, while ÉireComposites 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 nondestructive testing and dimensional checks throughout the build. By combining advanced computational modeling, hands-on manufacturing and meticulous quality control, the partners will deliver reliable, high-performance composite structures that are central to the success of the LISA project.

“Nearly everything we know about the universe comes from telescopes,” says Tomas Flanagan. “LISA provides a completely different approach by focusing on gravitational waves instead of light. It’s hard to believe that we’ll be making structural carbon fiber 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.”