Completing the construction of Plato’s spacecraft (back view)
Engineers mount the sunshield and solar array module to the rest of ESA’s Plato spacecraft.
The activity took place in a dedicated cleanroom at ESTEC, ESA’s technical heart in the Netherlands, on 9 September.
The engineering team suspended the combined sunshield and solar array module using special lifting gear. They then manoeuvred the module to precisely align it with the back of the spacecraft and carefully mounted it in place.
For this operation, the solar array was covered by protecting panels.
[Image description: A team of eight engineers in protective clothing and hairnets are working on a large, rectangular spacecraft component – the sunshield and solar array module. Its surface is covered by silver-coloured flat panels. The work is taking place in a brightly lit, spacious cleanroom.]
Completing the construction of Plato’s spacecraft
Preparing for the last step of Plato’s construction
Plato’s spacecraft is complete
Fitting Plato’s sunshield and solar array module
