Venus voyager and gravitational wave surfer get green light

What can gravitational waves tell us about the history of the Universe? Why does our closest neighbour in space look so different to planet Earth?
Today ESA took a huge step towards answering these questions and many more as it ‘adopted’ its latest ambitious space science missions: the LISA gravitational wave observatory and the EnVision Venus explorer. Adoption confirms that work can begin on incorporating LISA and EnVision into ESA’s growing science fleet.

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will be the first space-based observatory dedicated to detecting ripples in the fabric of spacetime. These ripples, which we call gravitational waves, are emitted during some of the most powerful events in the Universe, such as when black holes collide. By measuring these ripples, LISA will probe the entire history of the Universe, going back long before stars and galaxies formed.

LISA will build upon the success of LISA Pathfinder, launched by ESA in 2015 to demonstrate the innovative key technologies that LISA will use. The main mission is expected to launch in 2035. It will consist of three spacecraft that fly in a triangular formation 2.5 million km apart, following about 50 million km behind Earth. LISA will detect ripples in spacetime through subtle changes in the distances between free-floating cubes nestled within each spacecraft.

Its eyes on a prize much closer to Earth, EnVision will investigate Venus in more detail than ever before and in its entirety, from its inner core to its upper atmosphere. Venus is the most Earth-like planet in terms of its size, structure and distance from the Sun. It may even have once had an Earth-like climate, before developing a runaway greenhouse effect, leading to scorching temperatures and crushing air pressure. EnVision will unravel key mysteries about our mysterious neighbour in space, being the first mission to measure how the planet’s interior, surface and atmosphere interact.

EnVision is expected to launch in 2031 and start gathering scientific data by 2035. It marks ESA’s second mission to visit our nearest neighbour in space, after Venus Express mapped the planet’s entire atmosphere during its 2005–2014 mission. EnVision will follow up on questions related to Venus’s surface, climate and history raised by Venus Express and other spacecraft, that remain unanswered even today.

“These trailblazing missions will take us to the next level in two extraordinarily exciting areas of space science and keep European researchers at the forefront of these domains,” says ESA Director of Science Carole Mundell.
The development of both missions will motivate collaboration between different companies, institutes, and countries. It will also accelerate the development of innovative technologies that may ultimately improve life on Earth.

The missions were adopted by ESA during the Agency’s Science Programme Committee meeting on 25 January 2024. LISA will be led by ESA with support from NASA and a consortium of scientists. EnVision is an ESA-led mission in partnership with NASA. Both missions are expected to launch on an Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The next step is to select a prime contractor to build each mission.

LISA adoption article here

EnVision adoption article here

LISA factsheet

ESA - EnVision factsheet

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