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The European Space Agency\u2019s mission Plato is set to launch at the beginning of 2027 on a quest to find Earth-like planets orbiting stars similar to our Sun. The spacecraft will board an Ariane 6 rocket with two boosters for launch from Europe\u2019s Spaceport in French Guiana.<\/p>\n
This animation offers a preview of Plato\u2019s launch and its first moments in space as a passenger on Ariane 6. We follow Plato\u2019s journey above Earth, up to the moment when the spacecraft separates from the launcher\u2019s final stage.<\/p>\n
Ariane 6 will set Plato on a trajectory to the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L2. This is an equilibrium point of the Sun-Earth system that revolves around the Sun together with Earth. It is located 1.5 million kilometres from Earth, in the direction opposite the Sun.<\/p>\n
The spacecraft will approach this point after a one-month journey and then enter a large-amplitude orbit around it.<\/p>\n
Watch also Plato\u2019s trip to L2.<\/p>\n
About Plato<\/b><\/p>\n
ESA\u2019s Plato (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars)\u00a0will use 26 cameras to study terrestrial exoplanets in orbits up to the habitable zone of Sun-like stars.<\/i><\/p>\n
Plato’s scientific instrumentation, consisting of the cameras and electronic units, is provided through a collaboration between ESA and the\u00a0<\/i>Plato Mission Consortium<\/i>\u00a0composed of various European research centres, institutes and industries. The spacecraft is being built and assembled by the industrial Plato Core Team led by\u00a0<\/i>OHB<\/i>\u00a0together with\u00a0<\/i>Thales Alenia Space<\/i>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/i>Beyond Gravity<\/i>.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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