The PLATO space mission
Introduction
PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO) is one of three ESA missions searching for Earth-like habitable exoplanets, the other two being ARIEL and CHEOPS.  Its objective is to find and study a large number of extrasolar planetary systems, with emphasis on the properties of terrestrial planets in the habitable zone around solar-like stars. PLATO has also been designed to investigate seismic activity in stars, enabling the precise characterisation of the planet’s host star, including its age. Scheduled launch date is 2026, such dates always slip I am advised, so should appeal to younger members!!!

PLATO will photometrically monitor a large number of bright stars for the detection of planetary transits and the determination of the planetary radii (around 3% accuracy). PLATO measures the ratio of planetary radii to that of its host star.

Identification of bright targets for spectroscopic and photometric follow-up observations of planetary atmospheres with other ground and space facilities. Asteroseismology for the determination of stellar masses, radii, and ages (up to 10% of the main sequence lifetime).

Radial velocity follow-up observations for the determination of the planetary masses.

The mission in detail
Please go to PLATO Space Mission