Plato, per transiti planetari e attività sismica stellare, è una missione europea dell’agenzia spaziale (ESA) con 26 telecamere per studiare esopianeti terrestri in orbite fino alla zona abitabile di stelle simili al Sole. I suoi obiettivi soono misurare le dimensioni degli esopianeti, scoprire esolune ed eventuali sistemi di anelli, caratterizzare le stelle ospiti.
These so-called ‘vibration tests’, are arranged in three parts. In this clip, we see the phase when the spacecraft, mounted on a ‘quad’ shaker, is jolted up and down (Z axis). In the other two stages, on top a ‘lateral’ shaker, the spacecraft is jiggled back and forth sideways in two perpendicular directions (X and Y axes).
Each test run lasts one minute, during which the frequency of the oscillations is gradually increased from 5 to 100 oscillations per second (hertz). At the higher frequencies we can no longer perceive the movement, but we hear the spacecraft’s internal rumbling caused by the fast shaking. The sound comes in waves, becoming louder when the shaker hits resonance frequencies and makes the spacecraft vibrate more intensely.
This spring, we’re launching a very special competition: Plato’s Find-a-New-Earth Art Challenge. One lucky winner will have their art decorate a real Ariane 6 rocket and keep Plato company on its launch to outer space in 2027.
Le linee guida [pdf]:
The winning design will be displayed on the Ariane 6 rocket that will take Plato to space. The image will also be used to support the Plato outreach campaign.
• The winner, accompanied by his/her/their parents or a legal guardian, will be invited by ESA to follow the live launch of Plato from ESA ESOC establishment in Germany in early 2027. ESA will cover travel to and from the location of the launch event, plus up to two nights of accommodation for the winning child and the accompanying parents or legal guardian in a shared hotel room.