PLATO space telescope journeys to test centre by sea and road

„PLATO’s eyes meet brain“: Die optische Bank mit den 26 Kameras wird auf das Service-Modul gesetzt. (Credit: ESA) / PLATO's 'eyes meet brain': The optical bench with its 26 telescopes is placed on the service module. (Credit: ESA)

Verladung des PLATO-Containers: Am 22. August 2025 wurde der Container mit dem PLATO-Satelliten in Mannheim auf ein Frachtschiff geladen, um diesen über den Rhein zu ESTEC in den Niederlanden zu bringen. (Credit: ESA-SJM Photography) / Loading the PLATO container: On 22 August 2025, the container carrying the PLATO satellite was loaded onto a cargo ship in Mannheim to bring it, via the Rhine, to ESTEC in the Netherlands. (Credit: ESA-SJM Photography)

Auf dem Weg in den Reinraum: PLATO wird aus dem Container auf einen Rollwagen geladen und in den Reinraum gebracht. Der Satellit ist dabei mit einer Schutzfolie bedeckt. (Credit: ESA-SJM Photography) / On its way to the clean room: PLATO is unloaded from the container onto a trolley and brought into the clean room. The spacecraft is covered with a protective film. (Credit: ESA-SJM Photography)

PLATO auf einem Rollwagen mit Schutzfolie: Hier kann man das Instrument mit Servicemodul von der Seite sehen. Die Kameras sind nach links ausgerichtet. (Credit: ESA-SJM Photography) / PLATO on a trolley beneath protective film: Here, the instrument with its service module can be seen from the side. The cameras are facing left. (Credit: ESA-SJM Photography)

Satellit im Zelt: Der Satellit wird in eine Art Zelt geschoben, das für die Reinraumbedingungen des empfindlichen optischen Instruments sorgt. (Credit: ESA-SJM Photography) / Satellite in the tent: The PLATO satellite is moved into a tent-like enclosure that maintains cleanroom conditions for the sensitive optical instrument. (Credit: ESA-SJM Photography)

Drehen des Satelliten: Der Satellit wird von seiner horizontalen in die aufrechte Lage gedreht. (Credit: ESA-SJM Photography) / Rotating the spacecraft: The spacecraft is rotated from a horizontal to an upright position. (Credit: ESA-SJM Photography)

Die 26 Kameras zeigen nach oben: PLATO in aufrechter Position bei ESTEC. Man sieht die Kameras, die alle in schwarzer Folie eingepackt sind. (Credit: ESA-SJM Photography) / PLATO's 26 cameras point upwards: PLATO in an upright position at ESTEC; its cameras are clearly visible, all wrapped in black film. (Credit: ESA-SJM Photography)

In June 2025, the PLATO space telescope's scientific instrument was integrated with its service module in the clean room of prime contractor OHB in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. PLATO – short for PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars – will scan the heavens for Earth-like exoplanets orbiting Sun-like stars. Its instrument consists of an optical bench with 26 individual cameras and their electronic modules. Using a special crane, the instrument was lifted and mounted onto the service module with pinpoint precision. ESA gave a vivid description of the process, dubbing the process as 'PLATO's eyes meet brain'. Everything required for operation was then essentially in place, including subsystems for power supply, propulsion and communication with Earth.

Once the work was complete, the sensitive apparatus had to be transported almost 900 kilometres to the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in the Dutch coastal town of Noordwijk. This was no easy task, as the container carrying PLATO was 5.5 metres wide. In Germany, lorries are not allowed be wider than 2.55 metres, and oversized loads require a certificate of exemption.

From Bavaria to the Netherlands in 14 days

Weighing up the costs, time and substantial admin involved, the transport company came up with a solution. First, over the course of three nights, PLATO was moved by a heavy goods vehicle from Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich, to Mannheim, along country roads and just a few stretches of motorway.

This called for the route to be inspected in advance, and the cargo had to be constantly monitored – under the ongoing supervision of the police and authorities. Once in Mannheim, PLATO was loaded onto a cargo ship, which transported it along the Rhine and through the branching Rhine-Meuse delta to the Dutch town of Katwijk. Throughout this entire journey, the container had to be climate controlled.

From Katwijk, it was only a few kilometres by lorry to ESA's 'technical heart' in Noordwijk. After 14 days, PLATO had reached its destination. Once at ESTEC, the instrument was loaded onto a trolley, wheeled into the clean room and rotated 90 degrees to an upright position.

In the coming weeks, PLATO will be put through its paces: intensive shaking tests, as well as vibration and acoustic tests, must be carried out to ensure that PLATO can withstand the enormous mechanical stresses during the launch onboard Ariane 6 without damage. Later, the complete spacecraft will be placed inside the Large Space Simulator – Europe's largest vacuum chamber – to ensure it will withstand the extreme temperatures, radiation and vacuum of space.