PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) is one of the three medium class (M class) missions selected for definition study in the framework of the ESA Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 program.


The 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: 

  1. •Complete the characterization of the orbital parameters

  2. •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. It was selected together with other five M class missions from 52 proposals in the fall of 2007.

After a first assessment study carried out at the ESA/CDF the PLATO mission has been subject of further studies:

  1. •assessment studies of the whole mission have been carried out independently by two industries;

  2. •an assessment study of the PLATO payload (telescopes, detectors, on board and ground based data handling)  has been provided by a Consortium of Research Institutes and Universities: the PLATO Payload Consortium (PPLC).


The Assessment Phase activities have be completed in the course of 2009, and in January 2010 the Advisory Structure to the Science Programme of ESA has recommended PLATO for the  Definition Phase, in support of the decision by the Science Programme Committee eventually taken in February 2010.


Status

Currently, PLATO is entering the Definition Phase.

Two industries will consolidate the study of the Service Mission Module, while the PPLC will study the PLATO Payload.

ESA final selection among the chosen competitors is expected for Jun 2011.

 

PLATO is an acronym, but also the name of a famous greek philosopher.

According to Simplicium (VI century a.C.), Plato posed to the astronomers of the Academia the following question: <<What about those uniform and regular motions, assuming which the errant stars orbits are saved ? ».

PLATO was looking for a physical law accounting for the orbit of planets (errant stars)  and contemporary able to satisfy the philosopher’s needs for “uniformity” and “regularity” .


Contacts:


  1. • For information about PLATO ask:

Claude.Catala at obspm.fr

(PLATO Principal Investigator)


  1. • For the site content ask:

Isabella.Pagano at oact.inaf.it

ON THE PRESSOn_the_Press.htmlshapeimage_8_link_0
NEWSNews/News.htmlshapeimage_9_link_0

In this web-site it is possible to find information on the project, its science objectives and the organization of the PLATO consortia.   The  internal documents produced during the current phase is available elsewhere.