For how long will gravitational waves remain hidden?

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory (LIGO) is a network of first generation interferometric detectors aiming to make the first direct observations of gravitational waves. Progress in the commissioning of the detectors has brought them within a factor of two of their design sensitivity near 150 Hz during the most recent science run of the instruments in March of 2005. Further improvements took place in the instruments since then and operating them at design sensitivity together with high duty cycle is expected by the end of 2005. This Letter surveys the status of the LIGO instruments and discusses results and prospects of direct detections of gravitational waves bursts.