09/07/2025
The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) is one of the most ambitious and promising space science missions of the coming decade – but its future is in jeopardy. If you are a U.S. citizen, you can help ensure continued NASA funding for this groundbreaking project. Visit https://SaveLISA.org to learn how to contact your representatives today. 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗔 𝗻𝗼𝘄!
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The President’s Budget Request (PBR) makes very damaging cuts to science in general and NASA Astrophysics in particular.
The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) is the next major NASA astrophysics mission after the Roman Space Telescope. It detects gravitational waves from throughout the Universe in a way that complements and expands on LIGO, arguably one of the U.S.’s greatest scientific achievements.
The PBR terminates LISA, ends the continuity of Astrophysics missions and would severely impact the United States’ standing as the world leader in space science and technology, if funding is not restored.
LISA will perform revolutionary science, greatly expanding our understanding of the Universe. LISA can detect black holes over a size range of millions and over, practically, the entire Universe. LISA can map the Milky Way with white dwarf binary stars, and LISA will probe the hearts of galaxies using neutron stars and stellar-sized black holes. LISA can see back to a tiny fraction of a second after the Big Bang, the earliest moment possible.
LISA is based on revolutionary technology. It uses an extreme extension of GPS technology, cutting-edge laser metrology, novel time determination and unique inertial guidance to measure millions of miles to a precision comparable to an atomic nucleus. These technologies all have their origins in the U.S. and are already having transformative impacts. For example, NASA’s gravity mapping missions use LISA measurement technology to measure underground acquifers and global ice loss.
The technology development and demonstration serve other purposes: maintaining U.S. leadership in critical fields like navigation and communication, and preparing a workforce to advance U.S. industry and innovate new capabilities.