PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars)1 is the M3 class ESA mission dedicated to the discovery
and study of extrasolar planetary systems by means of planetary transits detection. PLATO Payload Camera
units are integrated and vibrated at CSL before being TVAC tested for thermal acceptance and performance
verification at 3 different test facilities (SRON, IAS and INTA). 15 of the 26 Flight Cameras were integrated,
tested and delivered to ESA for integration by the Prime between June 2023 and June 2024, with the remaining
flight units to be tested by the end of 2024. In this paper, we provide an overview of our serial testing approach,
some of the associated challenges, key performance results and an up-to-date status on the remaining planned
activities.
KEYWORDS: Cameras, Space operations, Stars, Design, Data processing, Control systems, Planets, Scanning tunneling microscopy, Satellites, X band, Exoplanets, Astronomical telescopes, Space telescopes
PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations) mission is a space-based optical multi-camera photometer mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) to identify and characterize exoplanets and their hosting stars using two main techniques: planetary transit and asteroseismology. Selected as the M3 (third Medium class mission) of the ESA 2015-2025 Cosmic Vision program, PLATO is scheduled to launch end of 2026 and designed for 4 years of nominal observation. The PLATO spacecraft is composed of a Service Module and a Payload Module. The Service Module comprises all the conventional spacecraft subsystems and the sun shield with attached solar arrays. The Payload Module consists of a highly stable optical bench, equipped with 26 optical cameras covering a global field of view of > 2232deg2. The PLATO spacecraft data is complemented by ground-based observations and processed by a dedicated Science Ground Segment. We describe the mission and spacecraft architecture and provide a view of the current status of development.
PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) is an M3 medium-class space mission in ESA’s Cosmic Vision program devoted to detecting and studying a large number of extrasolar planetary systems. Its launch is planned for the end of 2026 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The PLATO Payload consists of 26 wide field-of-view Cameras, each observing a specific part of the sky, associated data processing units and power supply units. The 24 Normal-Cameras will provide a very high-resolution photometric measurement of light from a large number of stars, while the other two Fast Cameras will provide the colour information and will deliver the pointing data to the AOCS (Attitude and Orbital Control System). The Cameras will be integrated into an optical bench. Each of them is composed of the Telescope Optical Unit (TOU), the Focal Plane Assembly (FPA) and the Front-End Electronics (FEE). Currently, the serial production of the Cameras has already started facing critical key points, non-conformities and challenging problems. The status of the Product Assurance activities during the serial production for which the first flight models are being delivered after the AIT phase is reported.
PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations) mission is a space-based optical multi-camera photometer mission of the European Space Agency to identify and characterize exoplanets and their hosting stars using two main techniques: planetary transit and asteroseismology.
The PLATO spacecraft is composed of a Service Module and a Payload Module. The Service Module comprises all the conventional spacecraft subsystems and the sun shield with attached solar arrays. The Payload Module consists of a highly stable optical bench, equipped with 26 optical imagers/cameras covering a global field of view of > 2232 deg2. The design includes two types of cameras: 24 Normal Cameras (N-CAMs) with measurement cadences of 25s and 2 Fast Cameras (F-CAMs) with a cadence of 2.5s. The PLATO spacecraft data is complemented by ground based observations and processed by a dedicate Science Ground Segment.
We describe the mission and spacecraft architecture and provide a view of the current status of development.
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