ArianespaceAriane 62 Block 2Ariane Launch Area 4, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
PLATO
Launch window
No countdown — this launch time is not yet known to the minute.NET March 2027Add to calendar
Image: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/ArianeGroup/Optique vidéo du CSG–S. Martin
Summary
PLATO is expected to launch on an Arianespace Ariane 62 Block 2 from Ariane Launch Area 4, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana in March 2027. It is Arianespace's 333rd launch, 3rd this year and humanity's 7,559th orbital launch attempt. It is planned as the 1st Ariane 62 Block 2 flight. The payload is bound for Sun-Earth L2 (L2).
- Watch
- No webcast announced yet.
- Vehicle
- Ariane 62 Block 2 · Arianespace
- Booster
- No booster details available.
- Mission
- Astrophysics · Sun-Earth L2 (L2)for ESA
- Milestone
- Planned as the 1st Ariane 62 Block 2 flightArianespace's 333rd launch3rd this yearhumanity's 7,559th orbital launch attempt28th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
About this launch
Plato, for PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars, is a European Space Agency (ESA) mission with 26 cameras to study terrestrial exoplanets in orbits up to the habitable zone of Sun-like stars. Its goal is to measure the sizes of exoplanets and discover exomoons and rings around them, as well as characterise planets' host stars by studying tiny light variations in the starlight it receives.
News
Plato's electronics ready for spaceThe European Space Agency’s terrestrial planet hunter Plato has recently completed a series of key tests inside the Maxwell Test Chamber at ESTEC, demonstrating that its electronic equipment is fit to work in space.
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Pad
Ariane Launch Area 4, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Planned as the 14th launch from Ariane Launch Area 4, 3rd this year · 344th from Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
9 launches from this pad · 336 from Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
90 days after the previous launch from this pad
All launches from Guiana Space Centre, French GuianaOpen in maps
Updates
Questions
When does PLATO launch?
PLATO is scheduled in March 2027.
Where can I watch PLATO live?
No webcast has been announced yet.
What rocket is launching PLATO?
Ariane 62 Block 2, flown by Arianespace. Ariane 62 Block 2 spec sheet
Where is PLATO launching from?
Ariane Launch Area 4, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana.
What orbit is PLATO going to?
Sun-Earth L2 (L2), a astrophysics mission.