May 04, 2015
The assembly of the LISA Pathfinder satellite is on track for the launch on top of a Vega rocket in late September. Now, the scientific mission payload and its support structure have been fully assembled at Airbus Defence & Space in Friedrichshafen, Germany. After some final tests, it will soon be ready to be joined with the LISA Pathfinder satellite.
All components of the LISA Technology Package (LTP) Core Assembly have been integrated in the LTP Support Structure which – among other things – provides thermal shielding for the sensitive scientific equipment. The assembly is now put through vibration tests on a shaker platform. This will mimick the conditions the satellite will experience during the launch on a Vega rocket in late September 2015.
After successfully passing this test, the LTP Core Assembly will be shipped to IABG in Ottobrunn, Germany. There it will be joined with the LISA Pathfinder satellite. Afterwards, the fully assembled satellite will be once again put through its last functional and remaining environmental test before being wrapped up for shipping to Kourou spaceport in French Guiana.