Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
This timelapse video captures the activities to move Plato (https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Plato) into the Large Space Simulator (https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Test_centre/Large_Space_Simulator_LSS) at ESA’s Test Centre (https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Test_centre). Inside the LSS, Europe's largest cryo-vacuum chamber, Plato had to demonstrate that it can withstand the extreme temperatures and vacuum of space.
In the video we see how engineers used a special crane to lift Plato out of a cleanroom through an opening in the ceiling and move it over the top opening of the LSS. Then, the spacecraft was gently lowered into the dark-walled chamber, all the way down to a supporting frame that holds the spacecraft in place.
Once the chamber’s top and side hatches were sealed, engineers began a series of vital tests of the spacecraft under space like conditions.
Many of the tests were designed to verify that Plato’s 26 cameras (https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Plato/Plato_s_cameras) performed as required for achieving the mission’s main goal: to discover potentially habitable, Earth-like planets around Sun-like stars.
In the video, Plato’s delicate cameras are covered with a blanket to protect them from stray dust particles.
Read more: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Plato/Plato_aces_space-like_tests
Credit: ESA - European Space Agency
We are Europe's gateway to space. Our mission is to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. Check out https://www.esa.int/ to get up to speed on everything space related.
Copyright information about our videos is available here: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Terms_and_conditions_of_use_of_images_and_videos_available_on_the_esa_website
#esa #plato
This timelapse video captures the activities to move Plato (https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Plato) into the Large Space Simulator (https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Test_centre/Large_Space_Simulator_LSS) at ESA’s Test Centre (https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Test_centre). Inside the LSS, Europe's largest cryo-vacuum chamber, Plato had to demonstrate that it can withstand the extreme temperatures and vacuum of space.
In the video we see how engineers used a special crane to lift Plato out of a cleanroom through an opening in the ceiling and move it over the top opening of the LSS. Then, the spacecraft was gently lowered into the dark-walled chamber, all the way down to a supporting frame that holds the spacecraft in place.
Once the chamber’s top and side hatches were sealed, engineers began a series of vital tests of the spacecraft under space like conditions.
Many of the tests were designed to verify that Plato’s 26 cameras (https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Plato/Plato_s_cameras) performed as required for achieving the mission’s main goal: to discover potentially habitable, Earth-like planets around Sun-like stars.
In the video, Plato’s delicate cameras are covered with a blanket to protect them from stray dust particles.
Read more: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Plato/Plato_aces_space-like_tests
Credit: ESA - European Space Agency
We are Europe's gateway to space. Our mission is to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. Check out https://www.esa.int/ to get up to speed on everything space related.
Copyright information about our videos is available here: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Terms_and_conditions_of_use_of_images_and_videos_available_on_the_esa_website
#esa #plato
