January 15, 2026 | Search for Earth-like planets in the Milky Way
PLATO exoplanet telescope passes vibration test
PLATO space telescope on the QUAD shaker at ESA's ESTEC test centre
PLATO positioned on ESA’s QUAD shaker to simulate the vibrations experienced during rocket launch. This test is important to ensure that the spacecraft can withstand the first few minutes of launch, when the strongest vibrations occur. PLATO is equipped with 26 cameras.
Image: 1/2, Credit:
ESA / G. Porter
Space exploration – PLATO (artist's impression)
PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) is a space telescope and the third of five missions by the European Space Agency (ESA) as part of the Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 programme. PLATO is cheduled to launch in early 2027, the mission will then begin its search for Earth-sized planets outside our Solar System.
Image: 2/2, Credit:
OHB System AG
ESA's PLATO spacecraft is currently undergoing a series of environmental tests, necessary to ensure it can withstand the stresses of launch and the harsh conditions of space.
The tests carried out so far – most recently the vibration test – have been completed successfully.
From 2027, PLATO will search for Earth-like exoplanets orbiting Sun-like stars.
Focus: Space, space exploration, exoplanets
PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) – the European Space Agency (ESA) mission to discover Earth-like exoplanets – has successfully passed its first series of tests. These ensure that the spacecraft will be fit for launch and for its stay in the harsh environment of space. On board is the PLATO telescope. Scheduled to launch in early 2027, the mission will then begin its search for Earth-sized planets outside our Solar System. Germany is playing a major role in the construction of the telescope, its operation and the scientific analysis of its data. German contributions and the international science team are coordinated by the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR).
The vibration tests are divided into three phases. In the ESA video, PLATO can be seen mounted on a 'quad shaker', where it is shaken up and down along the Z-axis. In the other two phases, the spacecraft is shaken back and forth on a 'lateral' shaker along the X and Y axes.
Each test run lasts one minute, during which the frequency of the vibrations is gradually increased from five to 100 hertz (vibrations per second). At higher frequencies, the motion is no longer visible to the human eye, but a low 'rumbling' sound can be heard from inside the spacecraft.
As this video shows, the tests involve vigorously shaking PLATO to simulate the strong shocks and vibrations that the spacecraft will be exposed to during launch.
Video: PLATO all shook up – the vibration test
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Video: PLATO all shook up – the vibration test
As this video shows, the tests involve vigorously shaking PLATO to simulate the strong shocks and vibrations that the spacecraft will be exposed to during launch.
Credit:
ESA
Stress tests for the demanding launch into space
Due to the extreme vibrations during rocket lift-off, the highest loads on a spacecraft occur in the first few minutes after launch, when it sits atop the rocket. This makes extensive ground testing essential to ensure that no hardware components come loose or are damaged during launch. Following the vibration tests, the spacecraft was taken to the acoustic test chamber, where it was exposed to deafening noise similar to that experienced during launch, which can also cause damage. This test was also completed successfully, as expected.
Next on the agenda for PLATO is ESA's Large Space Simulator – Europe's largest vacuum chamber – where the spacecraft will be tested to check whether it can withstand the extreme temperatures and vacuum conditions of space.
The ESA mission PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) will use 26 cameras to search for Earth-sized planets orbiting Sun-like stars. Its goal is to identify exoplanets that orbit in the 'habitable' zone around their host star.
PLATO's scientific instruments – cameras and electronic units – were provided as part of a collaboration between ESA and the PLATO mission consortium, which consists of various European research centres, institutes and industrial companies.
DLR coordinates international cooperation
DLR leads the international PLATO mission consortium and contributes supporting hardware and software, particularly for the calibration, operation and execution of the readout electronics of the two fast cameras, as well as the payload computer and parts of the on-board data processing. DLR is also responsible for demonstrating and verifying overall system performance at various stages of the PLATO project and is involved in the scientific evaluation of the data.
Parts of the payload development, the data centre, the data pipelines and the operation of the payload from early 2027 onwards are financed by the German Space Agency at DLR with funds from the German government.
