PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) is one of the four medium class (M class) missions selected for assessment study in the framework of the ESA Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 program.
The mean scientific goal of PLATO is the discovery and study of extrasolar planetary systems by means of planetary transits detection.
PLATO will observe a large sample of bright stars allowing us to completely characterize the discovered planets and their hosting stars. Specifically, the characterization includes the seismic analysis of the stars hosting planets in order to precisely determine their mass, radius and age, i.e. those fundamental parameters that are required to precisely derive the same quantities for the hosted planets.
Moreover, the planetary systems discovered by PLATO can be followed-up spectroscopically from ground and space based telescopes in order to:
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• Complete the characterization of the orbital parameters
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• Measure the physicochemical properties of planets and their atmospheres.
History
PLATO was proposed to European Space Agency (ESA) by a team of scientists in response to the Call for ESA Cosmic Vision 2015-2025. The selection of PLATO among the M class missions to further study before final selection was announced in the fall of 2007.
A first assessment study has been carried out at the ESA/CDF, following which ESA has published:
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• a call for assessment studies of the whole mission to be carried out independently by two industries;
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• a call for an assessment study of the PLATO payload (telescopes, detectors, on board and ground based data handling) that will be provided by a consortium of Research Institutes and Universities.
Status
Currently, both the two industrial studies and the Payload Consortium Study are on going.
These studies will be completed by June 2009.
ESA selection among the chosen competitors is expected for the end of 2009.
