Fitting Plato’s sunshield and solar array module

In a dedicated cleanroom at ESA’s Test Centre, engineers prepare to mount the combined sunshield and solar array module to the rest of ESA’s Plato spacecraft.

For the operation, the module was suspended from special lifting gear, visible on the left side in this photo.

Once in orbit, the solar panels will catch light from the Sun to power the spacecraft electronics. The sunshield will keep the scientific equipment in shadow, protecting it from the Sun’s glare.

[Image description: Inside a spacious cleanroom, engineers in protective clothing work on large scientific equipment. The image features a white metallic structure on the left and Plato’s spacecraft wrapped in gold-coloured insulation foil on the right. The mostly white room has high ceilings and multiple ESA logos on the walls.]

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