Video – PLATO spreads its wings
With the installation of the sunshield and solar arrays, engineers have completed the construction of PLATO – the European Space Agency’s mission to discover Earth-like exoplanets. After assembly, the team tested whether the mechanism deployed the panels correctly. This video shows the deployment test, which took place in a dedicated cleanroom at ESA’s ESTEC Space Research and Technology Centre. In space, the system will be automatically released from its folded position by special mechanisms. During this test, the array was triggered manually, with the left and right wings opened separately. The deployment proceeded as expected. In orbit, the solar panels will provide PLATO’s power supply, while the sunshield will keep the scientific instruments in the shade and protect them from incoming sunlight.
Video – PLATO spreads its wings
Video – PLATO spreads its wings
With the installation of the sunshield and solar arrays, engineers have completed the construction of PLATO – the European Space Agency’s mission to discover Earth-like exoplanets. After assembly, the team tested whether the mechanism deployed the panels correctly. This video shows the deployment test, which took place in a dedicated cleanroom at ESA’s ESTEC Space Research and Technology Centre. In space, the system will be automatically released from its folded position by special mechanisms. During this test, the array was triggered manually, with the left and right wings opened separately. The deployment proceeded as expected. In orbit, the solar panels will provide PLATO’s power supply, while the sunshield will keep the scientific instruments in the shade and protect them from incoming sunlight.
Credit:
ESA – Rowan Moorkens O'Reilly (ATG Europe)
Duration:00:01:02