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News

Pioneering probe for gravitational wave observatory ends mission

July 19, 2017 Stephen Clark

The European Space Agency’s LISA Pathfinder spacecraft, now sailing around the sun on a trajectory away from Earth, was deactivated Tuesday after a nearly 18-month mission testing previously-untried lasers, vacuum enclosures, exotic gold-platinum cubes and micro-thrusters needed for a trio of gravitational wave observatories set for launch in the 2030s.

Members

Q&A with Stéphane Israël, chairman and CEO of Arianespace

December 16, 2015 Stephen Clark

Arianespace chief executive Stéphane Israël discussed his company’s outlook with Spaceflight Now, touching on the light-class Vega rocket’s business prospects, the launch manifest in 2016, Arianespace’s view of innovation in the launch market, and his plans to compete in the next decade.

Mission Reports

Take a last look at the Vega rocket’s middle-of-the-night liftoff

December 4, 2015 Stephen Clark

Videos and photos help tell the story of Thursday’s launch of Europe’s LISA Pathfinder spacecraft, carrying high-tech thrusters and ultra-sensitive motion sensors to be used in a future gravitational wave detection mission, from French Guiana aboard a nearly 100-foot-tall (30-meter) Vega rocket.

Mission Reports

European probe blasts off on gravitational wave demonstration

December 3, 2015 Stephen Clark

A solid-fueled Vega launcher fired through a low cloud deck and sped into orbit from the South American jungle early Thursday with a pioneering European spacecraft that marks a key step in a century-long quest to detect elusive gravitational waves predicted to permeate the cosmos.

Mission Reports

Live coverage: Vega rocket launches with LISA Pathfinder

December 2, 2015 Stephen Clark

A Vega rocket has blasted off with Europe’s LISA Pathfinder tech demo mission, a probe heading to a station a million miles from Earth to test systems for a future gravitational wave observatory. Liftoff from French Guiana occurred at 0404 GMT Thursday (11:04 p.m. EST Wednesday).

Mission Reports

Vega/LISA Pathfinder launch timeline

December 2, 2015 Stephen Clark

Follow the major events during the launch of Europe’s LISA Pathfinder gravitational probe testbed, from liftoff of its Vega rocket booster from French Guiana through deployment into its initial orbit.

Mission Reports

LISA Pathfinder launch grounded to analyze Vega upper stage

December 1, 2015 Stephen Clark

Launch managers in French Guiana have delayed liftoff of a European gravitational probe pathfinder at least one day to study out-of-bounds thermal readings from the upper stage of its Vega rocket booster, officials said Tuesday.

Mission Reports

Finely-crafted experimental space probe ready for launch

December 1, 2015 Stephen Clark

A modest European-built spacecraft tuned to test the delicate, cutting edge technologies required to detect gravitational waves, a measurement that scientists say could yield unforeseen discoveries about the universe, is awaiting liftoff aboard a solid-fueled Vega rocket this week.

Mission Reports

Photos: Experimental LISA Pathfinder probe processed for launch

November 24, 2015 Stephen Clark

The European Space Agency’s LISA Pathfinder spacecraft, destined to test the concept of gravitational wave detection a million miles from Earth, is nearly ready for launch Dec. 2.

Mission Reports

Vega booster crowned with gravitational probe pathfinder

November 20, 2015 Stephen Clark

After criss-crossing Europe for a decade, the LISA Pathfinder satellite testbed has reached its last stop before launch in early December on a mission to demonstrate the delicate technologies required to detect elusive low-frequency gravitational waves rippling through the cosmos.

Posts pagination

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News Headlines

  • Live coverage: SpaceX to expend Falcon 9 booster to launch Spainsat NG 2 communications satellite
    October 23, 2025
  • SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites on 550th Falcon 9 mission
    October 22, 2025
  • SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg
    October 18, 2025
  • SpaceX launches a Falcon 9 rocket on record-breaking 31st flight
    October 18, 2025
  • Orion spacecraft arrives at VAB ahead of stacking for Artemis 2
    October 17, 2025
  • SpaceX sends 28 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit in predawn launch
    October 15, 2025
  • SpaceX launches 2nd batch of satellites for Space Development Agency following weather scrub
    October 14, 2025
  • Rocket Lab launches 7th StriX Earth observation satellites for Japan-based Synspective
    October 14, 2025
  • SpaceX launches final Version 2 Starship-Super Heavy rocket
    October 14, 2025
  • SpaceX launches 24 Amazon Kuiper satellites following days of weather delays
    October 13, 2025
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