// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM
Gravitational Wave
Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime caused by extremely energetic cosmic events, like colliding black holes or neutron stars. They travel at the speed of light.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Disturbances in the curvature of spacetime, propagating as waves, generated by accelerating massive objects, such as merging black holes or neutron stars, as predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity and detected by observatories like LIGO.
BACKGROUND
Outer space, or simply space, is the expanse that exists beyond Earth's atmosphere and between celestial bodies. It contains ultra-low levels of particle densities, constituting a near-perfect vacuum of predominantly hydrogen and helium plasma, permeated by electromagnetic radiation, cosmic rays, neutrinos, magnetic fields and dust. The baseline temperature of outer space, as set by the background radiation from the Big Bang, is 2.7 kelvins.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Spacetime ripples
- Gravity waves (less common in this context)
- Gravitational radiation
USAGE NOTE
The LIGO experiment first directly detected gravitational waves from merging black holes.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Gravitational Wave.
An international collaboration dedicated to the direct detection of gravitational waves, operating the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors and developing related instrumentation and analysis techniques.
An international collaboration operating the Virgo gravitational wave detector near Pisa, Italy, contributing significantly to the development and improvement of ground-based gravitational wave detection technology.
Leading the development of space-based gravitational wave observatories, most notably the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission, which will detect gravitational waves from space.
Collaborates with ESA on the LISA mission and supports research and technology development for future space-based gravitational wave detection initiatives.
A world-leading research institute deeply involved in theoretical and experimental gravitational wave research, contributing critical technology and data analysis methods for both ground-based (LIGO/Virgo) and space-based (LISA) detectors.
A co-founding and operating institution of the LIGO observatories, conducting extensive research and technology development in gravitational wave physics and astronomy.
A co-founding and operating institution of the LIGO observatories, heavily involved in the design, construction, and operation of gravitational wave detectors and associated technologies.