NASA has revealed the first look at a full-scale prototype for six telescopes that will enable, in the next decade, the space-based detection of gravitational waves — ripples in space-time caused by merging black holes and other cosmic sources. The LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) mission is led by ESA (European Space Agency) in partnership […]
Wow it’s tiny
Telescope is almost a misnomer here. It will be “looking” at other satellites, not astronomically distant objects.
The influence of gravitational waves will be seen in changes in the relative distance to each of the six satellites.
Yes, but also no.
The satellites themselves may be small, but the interferometer antenna they’ll collectively form will be huge.