ESA's Plato Mission Passes Vibration Tests Successfully (esa.int)

• Plato underwent vibration tests on quad and lateral shakers mimicking launch forces.
• Acoustic tests with loud launch-like noise also passed successfully.
• Mission will proceed to thermal-vacuum tests; launch targeted for January 2027.

"The European Space Agency's Plato mission to find Earth-like exoplanets has passed its first round of vibration tests, simulating launch stresses. The spacecraft was shaken on a quad shaker and lateral shaker in three axes, then subjected to acoustic tests. Next are thermal-vacuum tests in the Large Space Simulator. Launch is planned for January 2027 on Ariane 6."