LISA Pathfinder end of Mission

Date: Tue, Jul 18, 2017 | 05:00 - 05:15 GMT | 07:00 - 07:15 CEST

Replay: Tue, Jul 18, 2017 | 15:00 - 15:15 GMT | 17:00 - 17:15 CEST

Type: ESA TV Exchange

Format: 16:9

LISA Pathfinder's mission comes to an end, after having successfully demonstrated ESA has the key technologies to look at gravitational waves, showing the possibility of a new approach for astronomy.

Launched on 3 December 2015, ESA's LISA Pathfinder started its science mission in March 2016, shortly after the announcement of the first direct detection of gravitational waves – which are like ripples in the fabric of spacetime, predicted by Albert Einstein in his General Theory of  Relativity.

The door is now open for future missions and ESA's Science Programme Committee selected the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA),  a space-based observatory of gravitational waves consisting of a constellation of three spacecraft, with launch planned for 2034.

This 18 July the last command will be sent to conclude LISA Pathfinder's pioneering mission.

This A&B-Roll explains what LISA Pathfinder achieved with interview with Paul McNamara, LISA Pathfinder Project Scientist at ESA.

More information at: http://sci.esa.int/lisa-pathfinder/

Preview and download:
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2017/07/Lisa_Pathfinder_end_of_Mission

Script:
LISA PATHFINDER END A and B ROLL FINAL+ TC.docx

Satellite Parameters: Eutelsat 9A at 9 degrees E, transponder 59, downlink frequency 11900.1 horizontally polarised, symbol rate 27,500 FEC 2/3.