NASA cancels Laser Interferometer Space Antenna

In summary, NASA has decided to give up on the LISA mission due to feasibility concerns and has also pulled funding from the IXO project. This will also impact the launch of the next X-ray telescope. Additionally, the JWST project is currently using up a lot of NASA's astronomy budget.
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  • #2
That sucks. =(
 
  • #3
I hope Europe and Australia take up the slack. This is a valuable mission.
 
  • #4
Well, it seems that NASA sent out a brief to LISA project members. "...led ESA to conclude that none of the three mission concepts were feasible within the Cosmic Vision L1 schedule." It seems that ESA can't fund these projects at their current scope either.

NASA has also decided to pull funding from the IXO project, as well. That's no fun. When is our next X-ray telescope going up?
 
  • #5
Oh, no. I don't even really know what to say.
 
  • #6
Damn. The JWST is sucking NASA astronomy dry.
 

1. Why was NASA planning to launch the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA)?

NASA planned to launch LISA to study gravitational waves, which are ripples in space-time caused by the acceleration of massive objects such as black holes and neutron stars. LISA would have been able to detect these waves and provide valuable insights into the nature of the universe.

2. What was the reason for NASA canceling the LISA mission?

The main reason for the cancellation of the LISA mission was budget constraints. The project was estimated to cost around $4.7 billion, and NASA had to prioritize other missions with more immediate goals and lower costs.

3. Will NASA be launching a similar mission in the future?

While there are currently no plans to launch a mission exactly like LISA, NASA is still committed to studying gravitational waves. They are currently developing the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Pathfinder, which will test the technology needed for a future LISA-like mission.

4. How far along was NASA in the development of LISA before it was canceled?

NASA had been working on LISA for over two decades, with the project reaching its final stages of development. The spacecraft and instruments were already built, and they were in the process of integrating and testing them before the launch in 2034.

5. Are there any plans for other organizations to launch a similar mission to LISA?

While there are no concrete plans, several other space agencies and organizations are also working on developing their own gravitational wave detectors. These include the European Space Agency's Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Taiji program.

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