NASA advances test telescope for space-based gravitational wave mission

NASA has commissioned L3Harris to deliver an all-glass test telescope for the LISA mission, a multinational attempt to detect gravitational waves in space. This Engineering Test Unit marks NASA’s final pre-flight telescope hardware for LISA, which is targeting launch in the mid-2030s. LISA will consist of three satellites placed millions of kilometers apart, using laser-linked telescopes to spot subtle distortions in space-time from distant cosmic events.

• LISA will use three satellites in Earth-following orbit
• Each satellite houses two space-grade glass telescopes
• Test telescope is made from temperature-resistant Zerodur ceramic-glass
• NASA provides telescopes; ESA leads the LISA mission
• LISA aims to detect low-frequency gravitational waves