Aug. 20, 2015

Slated for launch by Vega in November, ESA’s gravitational-wave detection technology demonstrator is ready to begin launch preparations in September at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Members of the media are invited to join ESA and Airbus Defence and Space at IABG’s space test centre in Ottobrunn, near Munich, Germany, to get a final glimpse of LISA Pathfinder before it departs to the launch site.
LISA Pathfinder will help to open up a completely new observational window into the gravitational Universe, proving new technologies needed to measure gravitational waves in space. Predicted by Albert Einstein, these waves are ripples in the curvature of spacetime and are produced by massive celestial bodies. Understanding their signature will tell scientists a lot about black holes, compact double stars and other exotic objects.
Members of the media are invited to join ESA’s, Airbus DS and relevant LISA Pathfinder scientists and partners on Tuesday, 1 September from 11:00 CEST, at the IABG space test centre in Ottobrunn near Munich, Germany.

Programme outline
IABG
Einsteinstrasse 20
D-85521 Ottobrunn, Germany
(Times below are in CEST)
11:00–11:05 Prof. Dr. Rudolf F. Schwarz, IABG CEO
Welcome
11:05–11:15 Alvaro Gimenez, ESA Director of Science and Robotic Exploration
Opening up the gravitational Universe for ESA’s Science Programme
11:15–11:25 Michael Menking, Airbus DS, Senior Vice President Earth Observation,
Navigation and Science
Airbus DS delivering cutting edge technology to ESA’s science programme
11:25–11:35 Cesar Garcia, ESA LISA Pathfinder Project Manager
LISA Pathfinder mission overview and challenges
11:35–11:45 Ian Honstvet, Airbus DS LISA Pathfinder Project Manager
LISA Pathfinder and its challenges for industry
11:45–11:55 Paul McNamara, ESA LISA Pathfinder Project Scientist
LISA Pathfinder: A new way to look at our Universe
11:55–12:05 Stefano Vitale, LISA Pathfinder Primary Investigator, University of Trento
LISA Technology Package
12:05–13:00 Opportunity for questions, followed by a visit to the cleanroom to see the
satellite
13:00–14:00 Buffet lunch and interview opportunities

Image: LISA Pathfinder at test centre.