PLATO

Circle Image

Overview

Destination: Sun-Earth L2
Mission: Astrophysics

Sun-Earth L2 Ariane Launch Area 4 Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Plato, for PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars, is a European Space Agency (ESA) mission with 26 cameras to study terrestrial exoplanets in orbits up to the habitable zone of Sun-like stars. Its goal is to measure the sizes of exoplanets and discover exomoons and rings around them, as well as characterise planets' host stars by studying tiny light variations in the starlight it receives.

Updates

Cosmic_Penguin • Jan. 15, 2026, 2:46 p.m.

NET January 2027.



Nosu • Jan. 30, 2025, 9:49 a.m.

Adding launch NET late 2026


Ariane 62

Family:
Configuration: 62 Block 2

Ariane 6 variant with two upgraded P160C solid rocket boosters.

Specifications
  • Length
  • Diameter
  • Fairing Diameter
  • Launch Mass
  • Thrust
Family
  • Name
    Ariane 62
  • Family
  • Variant
    62 Block 2
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Ariane 62 Block 2
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity

ArianeGroup

ArianeGroup

(AG)

CEO: Christophe Bruneau Founded: 2015 Successes: 0 Failures: 0 Pending: 0

Agency Type:

ArianeGroup (formerly Airbus Safran Launchers) is an aerospace company based in France. A joint venture between Airbus and Safran, the company was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux. It consists of three core arms: aerospace, defence and security.

INFO WIKI

Related News

ESA

Plato readies for space-like tests

The European Space Agency’s mission to discover Earth-like exoplanets, Plato, is now sealed in the Large Space Simulator (LSS) chamber at ESA’s Test Centre for a series of vital tests under space‑like conditions.

ESA

Plato passes vibe check

Plato, the European Space Agency’s mission to discover Earth-like exoplanets, successfully passed a first round of tests designed to ensure that the spacecraft is fit for launch. As this video shows, the tests consist of vigorously shaking…

ESA

Completed Plato spacecraft is ready for final tests

By fitting its sunshield and solar panels, engineers have completed the construction of Plato, the European Space Agency’s mission to discover Earth-like exoplanets. Plato is on track for the final key tests to confirm that it is fit for l…

ESA

Plato arrived at ESA’s test centre by boat

The European Space Agency’s Plato spacecraft has safely arrived at ESTEC, ESA’s technical heart in the Netherlands. There, engineers will complete the spacecraft by connecting its solar panels and sunshield, and carry out a series of criti…

ESA

Plato’s eyes meet brain

On 11 June, engineers at OHB’s facilities in Germany joined together the two main parts of ESA’s Plato mission.

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

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