PLATO unfurls its solar panels in the cleanroom
PLATO unfurls its solar panels in the cleanroom
Front and rear views of ESA's PLATO spacecraft in one of the cleanrooms at ESA’s ESTEC Space Research and Technology Centre. The photos were taken shortly after the PLATO team tested the deployment of the two wings of the combined sunshield and solar module. The left and right wings of the module were deployed separately. The solar panels are mounted on the rear of the spacecraft. In space, they will face the Sun, while the spacecraft’s front – equipped with 26 cameras – will point towards the cosmos. In this image, the cameras (top) are covered with a protective sheet to shield them from stray dust particles.
Credit:
ESA – SJM Photography