Testing the LISA optical bench

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) aims to detect gravitational-waves down to mHz frequencies. It will consist of three spacecraft forming an equilateral triangle in an Earth-like orbit around the sun. Drag-free test masses define the arms of a Michelson interferometer that is implemented by mutual laser links between the satellites in a transponder configuration. Each LISA satellite carries optical benches, one for each test mass, that measure the distance variations to the local test mass and to the remote optical bench on the distant satellite. In addition, the optical bench includes an acquisition sensor and mechanisms for laser redundancy switching and point ahead angle correction. Currently, an elegant bread board of the optical bench is developed and will be characterised. This requires to complete externally the two interferometers mentioned above by simulators a test mass simulator and a telescope simulator. We will give an overview of the test infrastructure including the overall setup, the simulators, and the phase measurement system.