European Space Agency’s scientific director says mission will keep continental researchers at the ‘front line’
The European Space Agency has given the green light to two new scientific missions. One is the exploration of Venus, and the other is the study of gravitational waves.
ESA Director of Science Carol Mandel said: “These pioneering missions take us to the next level in two very exciting areas of space science and place European researchers at the very best in these areas. We will continue to keep it at the forefront.”
Both the Envision Venus mission and the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (Lisa) mission will be launched on Esa’s planned new Ariane 6 rocket launcher. expected to be used this year It has been in development for almost 10 years.
“More detail than ever before”
Envision is scheduled to launch in 2031 as Europe’s second mission to Venus. After its predecessor, the Venus Express mission, surveyed the planet’s surface from 2005 to 2014, this spacecraft will examine the planet “in greater detail and holistically than ever before, from the inner core to the upper atmosphere.” Become.
Risa is scheduled to launch in 2035 and will be the first space-based gravitational wave observatory.”These ripples… are emitted during some of the most powerful events in the universe, such as black hole collisions,” Ether said. [them]Lisa explores the entire history of the universe, going back to long before stars and galaxies formed. ”
The Lisa Observatory consists of three spacecraft (pictured) that fly 2.5 million kilometers away, tracking approximately 50 meters behind the Earth. It will build on Esa’s Lisa Pathfinder mission launched in 2015.
The next step will be to identify prime contractors for each mission later this year. Both missions could foster cooperation between countries, companies and research institutions and accelerate technology development, Esa said.
