Space

NASA Advances LISA Mission Contributions With New Test Telescope

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 08/10/2026, 15:50:24 UTC.

Briefings

NASA has selected L3Harris Technologies to design and assemble an all-glass Engineering Test Unit telescope for the LISA mission, a space observatory launching in the mid-2030s. The new telescope, made of amber-colored Zerodur glass-ceramic, will replace a previous metal prototype delivered in May 2024. LISA will deploy three satellites into an Earth-following orbit to detect gravitational waves using infrared laser beams, with the new unit serving as the final pre-flight hardware before ESA's first optical telescope delivery.

Key points

• L3Harris Technologies is selected to design, assemble, and integrate the Engineering Test Unit telescope for NASA's LISA mission.
• The telescope is made entirely of amber-colored Zerodur glass-ceramic, a material chosen for its resistance to shape changes across a wide temperature range.

Context

The LISA mission, led by ESA, will deploy a trio of satellites into an Earth-following orbit to detect gravitational waves. NASA contributes telescopes, critical hardware, and engineering support as part of a collaborative partnership to understand the universe's workings.

Limitations

Evidence covers the selection of L3Harris for the Engineering Test Unit telescope and the material specifications of the Zerodur glass-ceramic. It does not include details on the final flight hardware, launch dates beyond the mid-2030s, or the specific scientific discoveries the telescope will enable.

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