Overview

• PLATO will search for Earth-sized planets in the habitable zones of Sun-like stars.
• The mission will use 24 normal cameras and 2 fast cameras to cover a large field of view.
• PLATO will also study star vibrations and oscillations to determine their masses, radii, and ages.
• The telescope is scheduled to launch on the Ariane-6 rocket from French Guiana in December 2026.
• Several key components, including the UK-provided Front-End Electronics, have completed manufacturing and testing.