ST7 / LISA Pathfinder

ST7 (recently named LISA pathfinder) is a space technology demonstration mission designed to validate several advanced technologies that will serve as building blocks for upcoming space-borne observatories.

In particular, ST7 will serve as a stepping stone towards the construction of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), the first space-borne gravity wave detector.
As a subcontractor for Stanford's High Energy Physics Lab (HEPL), Gizmonics is performing the mechanical design for the Gravity Reference Sensor on board ST7, and supervising its fabrication.
As a cutting edge precision instrument, ST7-GRS poses a very demanding set of requirements, including:

Complete sensor, showing two Gravity Reference Sensor assemblies, a laser interferometer,
and connections to various support systems. This system is a major component
of the ST7 mission, which will be launched on ESA's Smart-2 space probe in 2007.
Switching Pneumatic-Hydraulic caging actuator.
The unit is about the size of a penny, and will support vibration loads as high as 50lbs without damaging the payload
High precision ceramic hollow-cube assembly, with intricate coatings and assemblies on inner surfaces forming the sensor at the heart of the Gravity Reference Sensor. The solid Gold-Platinum proof-mass that fits snugly inside has enough precious metal in it to make almost 500 14-carat rings. Happy Valentine's day!


Repeatability demonstrator, showing a kinematic assembly capable of withstanding launch loads, yet able to come apart and reassembled with sub micron precision.