TÜV NORD GROUP participates in groundbreaking ESA mission to research gravitational waves in space

TÜV NORD GROUP is part of one of the most ambitious missions of the European Space Agency (ESA). LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) is a space observatory that aims to measure gravitational waves in space. Three space probes will form an equilateral triangle in space and will be connected to each other. These probes will use laser beams to measure tiny changes in the distance between them caused by gravitational waves.

ALTER, a TÜV NORD GROUP company, has now been selected as the Central Parts Procurement Agency (CPPA) for the LISA mission. The specialists are responsible for the development, procurement and testing of all electronics and technologies for the payload of the LISA mission. “We are proud to be supporting such a huge space mission. ALTER specializes in ensuring that space systems and components meet the extreme requirements of space, such as extreme temperature fluctuations, and function reliably,” says Luis Gómez, ALTER Managing Director. With more than 30 years of experience, ALTER supports a number of ESA missions in the deep space sector, including EUCLID and PLATO.

LISA will be the first observatory in space dedicated to the study of gravitational waves. Gravitational waves are distortions in the structure of space and time produced by the most powerful events in the universe, such as the merging of black holes. As part of its core science goals, LISA will study the formation and evolution of thousands of compact binary star systems in the Milky Way, trace the origin, growth and mergers of massive black holes over cosmic ages, and study the dynamics of incredibly massive and dense star clusters near the centers of most galaxies.

It is the third major mission of ESA's Cosmic Vision plan. Among other things, it aims to explore the secrets of the universe for a better understanding of cosmic phenomena, the formation of galaxies and the search for potentially habitable planets. The construction of LISA is scheduled to begin in January 2025. The planned mission is then expected to start in the mid-2030s.

The LISA mission is a collaboration between ESA, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and an international consortium of scientists.

About the European Space Agency:

The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe's gateway to space.

Founded in 1975, ESA is an intergovernmental organization whose mission is to develop European space capabilities and ensure that investments in space benefit citizens in Europe and around the world.

By coordinating the financial resources and competencies of its member states, ESA is able to carry out programs and activities that go far beyond the capabilities of any single European country. It also works closely with the EU to implement the Galileo and Copernicus programs and with Eumetsat to develop meteorological missions.

You can find out more about ESA at www.esa.int
 

Founded over 150 years ago, we stand for security and trust worldwide. As a knowledge company, we have our sights firmly set on the digital future. Whether engineers, IT security experts or specialists for the mobility of the future: in more than 100 countries, we ensure that our customers become even more successful in the networked world.