Novel Application of the LISA Mission
Determining the mass of asteroids has long been a difficult task for researchers, typically relying on optical observations combined with density estimates derived from spectral data. These conventional techniques often yield only rough approximations with considerable uncertainties.
A new paper introduces a completely different concept: the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), a planned space‑based gravitational‑wave observatory, could simultaneously serve as a highly precise instrument for measuring asteroid masses. The authors argue that LISA’s ultra‑sensitive interferometric measurements, designed to detect minute spacetime distortions, would also respond to the subtle gravitational influence of a nearby asteroid.
By analysing the tiny perturbations introduced by an asteroid into LISA’s gravitational field, scientists could infer the object’s mass with an accuracy surpassing that of traditional optical methods. Importantly, this approach does not require any additional hardware or modifications to the existing mission architecture.
The technique is most applicable to near‑Earth asteroids that pass within a few million kilometres of the spacecraft. Accurate mass data are essential for assessing impact risk and evaluating the potential for resource extraction.
If validated in future missions, LISA could extend its scientific impact beyond gravitational‑wave astronomy, providing a valuable tool for planetary science and the monitoring of hazardous near‑Earth objects.