From LISA Pathfinder to LISA: Celebrating 10 years of the LPF launch.

3 Dec 2025, 09:30 → 4 Dec 2025, 18:00 Europe/Madrid

Auditorium (CSIC Catalan Delegation)

Carlos Sopuerta (Institute of Space Sciences), Miquel Nofrarias

On 3 December 2015, the European Space Agency launched LISA Pathfinder, a pioneering mission designed to test the technologies required to open a new window onto the Universe: the detection of low-frequency gravitational waves from space. Over its operational lifetime, LISA Pathfinder surpassed expectations, demonstrating with unprecedented precision that free-falling test masses could be shielded from all external forces, and that their motion could be tracked with picometre accuracy.

Now, ten years later, we come together to celebrate the success of this extraordinary mission, which laid the foundations for LISA, ESA’s future space-based gravitational wave observatory. LISA Pathfinder not only proved the feasibility of revolutionary instrumentation — from drag-free control to micro-newton thrusters — but also paved the way for a completely new form of astronomy. This anniversary is an opportunity to look back on a milestone in space science, and to look ahead to the scientific revolutions that LISA will bring.

Important Dates

- Abstract Submission Deadline: 15 November 2025

- Registration Deadline : 28 November 2025 

- Final Programme: 21 November 2025

From LISA Pathfinder to LISA: Celebrating 10 years of the LPF launch

From Technology to Scientific Revolutions

Wednesday 3 December

Registration and Reception

Introduction - CSIC, ESA and AEE representatives

Conveners: Carlos Sopuerta (Institute of Space Sciences), Miquel Nofrarias

1 Introduction by local authorities (CSIC, ICE, IEEC)

Speaker: Dr Aldo Serenelli (Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC and IEEC))

Aldo_ICE_GWs.pdf

2 Introduction by the European Space Agency (ESA)

Speaker: Dr Paul McNamara (ESA)

Intro LPF celebration Nov-25_PMNV2.pdf

3 Introduction by the Spanish Space Agency (AEE)

Speaker: Prof. Isabel Pérez Grande (AEE)

11:00 Coffee Break

LPF Talks and Discussion Panel

Convener: Prof. Giussepe Racca (Leiden University (previously at ESA))

4 LISA Pathfinder: how we won our orders of magnitude and LISA

Speaker: Prof. Stefano Vitale (University of Trento)

Vitale_LPFX_PDF.pdf

5 LPF towards LISA

Speaker: Prof. Karsten Danzmann (Albert Einstein Institute at Hannover)

Danzmann_LPF2LISA_2025_small.pdf

6 LPF: a leap, not just a project

Speaker: Dr César García Marirrodriga (European Space Agency (former member))

Cesar_A leap, not just a project_final.pptx

7 Panel: LPF legacy

Speakers: Dr Christian Trenkel (Airbus UK), Dr Nikolaos Karnesis (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), Dr Paul McNamara (European Space Agency), Prof. Rita Dolesi (University of Trento), Prof. Álvaro Giménez (National Spanish Research Council (CSIC))

Panel .pptx

13:30 Lunch Break (after Group Picture)

LPF-LISA Talks

Convener: Prof. Rita Dolesi (University of Trento)

8 Free-falling test masses from LPF and preparing the LISA GRS

Speaker: Prof. William Weber (University of Trento)

lpf_10_years_wjw_grs_pub_fin.pdf

lpf_10_years_wjw_grs_pub_fin.pptx

9 LPF IS FEE Performances and Operations

Speaker: Dr Luigi Ferraioli (ETH Zürich)

LPF_10_years_LuigiFerraioli_GRSFEE.pdf

10 From LPF to LISA: Building Diagnostics for Environmental Monitoring

Speaker: Dr Miquel Nofrarias (Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC and IEEC))

20251203_Nofrarias_ILPF_X_anniversary.pptx

16:00 Coffee Break

LPF-LISA Talks

Convener: Prof. Rita Dolesi (University of Trento)

11 Short history of the LPF interferometer

Speaker: Prof. Gerhard Heinzel (Albert Einstein Institute at Hannover)

Heinzel_202512_barcelona_ltp_ifo.pdf

12 OMS - OB

Speaker: Prof. Henry Ward (University of Glasgow)

202512_barcelona_ltp_ifo.ppt

Thursday 4 December

LPF-LISA Talks

Convener: César García Marirrodriga (ESA (former member))

13 LISA Pathfinder - the View from an Industrial (Prime) Perspective

Speaker: Dr Christian Trenkel (Airbus UK)

Trenkel_Airbus UK Perspective LPF X Anniversary.pptx

14 LTP at Airbus and setting the stage for LISA

Speaker: Dr Ulrich Johann (Airbus Friedrichshafen (former member))

LTP at Airbus and setting the stage for LISA_uj_Presentation.pdf

15 LISA Pathfinder Mission Operations Experience and Outlook for LISA Operations

Speaker: Dr Andreas Rudolph (European Space Agency - ESOC)

ESA Lisa PF Mission Operations experience and Outlook for LISA Ops v2.pptx

10:00 Coffee Break - POSTER SESSION

Poster Session

Poster Session

16 Testing photo-emission of Au-coated surfaces for the LISA Gravitational Reference System (GRS)

Speaker: Dr Francesco Venturelli (University of Trento)

Venturelli_posterLPF10Barcelona.pdf

17 On-ground testing of the LISA Gravitational Reference System

Speaker: Dr Davide del Bosco (University of Trento)

18 Stable, precise and durable sputtered, dielectric coatings for LISA and other space missions

LISA Pathfinder and LISA use stable optical benches with optics attached by silicate bonding to perform length measurements. The optical coatings defining the function and performance of the optical components such as mirror, beam splitter or polarizing beam splitter must withstand the conditions during launch and operation in space and deliver constant performance. This requires durable and stable optical coatings. This talk discusses coatings produced by Ion Beam Sputtering (IBS) and Magnetron Sputtering (MS) and highlights their properties and advantages compared to other coating techniques such as Electron Beam evaporation (EBE) or Ion Assisted Deposition (IAD). Examples of optical components produced for LISA experiments are discussed.

Speaker: Dr Michael Troebs (Laseroptik)

Troebs_LASEROPTIK-CoatingsForSpace.pdf

19 10 Years of LISA Pathfinder: Early-Career continuations behind the Launch

Ten years ago. In 2015, LISA Pathfinder launched successfully, thanks in part to the contributions of PhD students and early-career scientists. This poster celebrates their work by highlighting key theses, project milestones, and the current career paths of these young researchers. Through timelines, visuals, and stories, we showcase how their efforts turned research into a successful mission, honoring both the scientific achievement and the people who made it possible.

Speakers: Dr Fumiko Kawazoe (Albert Einstein Institute in Hannover), Prof. Gerhard Heinzel (Albert Einstein Institute in Hannover), Prof. Karsten Danzmann (Albert Einstein Institute in Hannover), Sascha Rieger (AEI / Milde Science Comms), Susanne Milde (AEI / Milde Science Comms)

LISAPF_Poster_1_2025-12-04_FINAL_s.pdf

LISAPF_Poster_2_2025-12-04_FINAL_s.pdf

20 Mode crossing of thermally controlled whispering gallery modes resonators

Speaker: Alba Moras (Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC and IEEC))

21 In orbit LISA Diagnostics Demonstrator (ILIADA)

Speaker: Nerea Laporta (Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC and IEEC))

LPF - LISA Talks

Convener: Dr Nikolaos Karnesis (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)

22 The heritage of LISA Pathfinder for the development of the Gravitational Reference System for LISA

The LPF mission has exceeded his goals showing the purity of the free-fall of a single TM as required for the LISA mission. The successful LPF mission has demonstrated that the LPF Gravitation Reference System (GRS) design is mature for LISA mission. However, a full re-build of the LPF GRS units is not compatible for LISA. Design modifications are necessary in order to comply with the specific LISA mission requirements, such as the longest mission duration, and to adapt the design to the LISA Instrument Architecture.
OHB Italia had a key role in the design, development, and verification of the GRS flown in LPF. For LISA the responsibility is further extended to the GRS mechanisms, its control electronics and the Power Conditioning Unit (PCU) of the GRS Front End Electronics (FEE).
The engineering experience inherited by OHB Italia for LPF is made available for LISA. Optimization of the GRS design is discussed in collaboration with the GRS team, the Agency and the LISA Industrial Prime.
OHBI Italia will take advantage of the LPF lessons learnt in several engineering activities. In particular to improve the GRS mechanisms design to release the TM in free fall with autonomous and reliable procedure. To optimize the integration and alignment procedures of the GRS Head equipment to comply to the LISA optical metrology budgets. To prove that GRS components and manufacturing process are compatible with LISA longer on ground storage and system integration as well as the in-flight lifetime. To characterize the GRS Head outgassing rates to ensure the required in-flight residual pressure around the TM. To measure the UV light discharge currents to verify the TM charge control performances. To compute and balance with the necessary accuracy the required GRS Head self-g static fields parameters (force, torque and stiffness). To screen the GRS Head components in order to verify the compliance to the LISA required magnetic field and gradient.

Speaker: Dr Paolo Francesco Sarra (OHB Italia SpA)

Sarra_GRS_OHBI_LPF_celebration.pdf

23 SENER contribution to LISA Pathfinder and the future LISA

Speaker: Dr Xavier Llamas (SENER)

Sener LISA-PF 10th aniversary.pdf

Sener LISA-PF 10th aniversary.pptx

24 LISA Pathfinder Data Analysis

Speaker: Dr Daniele Vetrugno (Albert Einstein Institute at Hannover)

Vetrugno_LPF_DA_DV_topdf.pdf

25 LPF results: femto-g free fall for sub-mHz frequencies

Speaker: Dr Lorenzo Sala (University of Trento)

LS_251204_BarcellonaLPF10th.pptx

26 Results from the magnetic diagnostics on board LISA Pathfinder

Speaker: Mr Daniel Serrano (Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC and IEEC))

LPF_X_anniversary_Daniel_Serrano.pdf

27 DC forces and self-gravity in LISA Pathfinder

Speaker: Dr Valerio Ferroni (University of Trento)

Ferroni_LPF_DC_Force_Torque.pdf

12:30 End of Meeting