PLATO (PLAnetary Transitsand Oscillations of stars) is the third medium-class mission in ESA's Cosmic Vision programme. Its objective is to find and study a large number of extrasolar planetary systems, with emphasis on the properties of terrestrial planets in the habitable zone around solar-like stars. PLATO has also been designed to investigate seismic activity in stars, enabling the precise characterisation of the planet host star, including its age.
(ALL SYSTEMS READY AND UNDER OPERATION FROM JANUARY 2022)
The TVAC-Andromeda Project consists of upgrading building N-09 to carry out climate preparation, verification and testing activities in space projects under "ISO 8" Clean Area conditions.
It includes the updating and expansion of the air conditioning and particle cleaning facilities in the Climatic Environmental Testing Laboratory (Environmental Testing Area / Equipment and Systems Testing Department), housed in the N-09 building of the INTA Technological Campus in Torrejón de Ardoz, and where a new space thermal vacuum simulator (TVAC ANDRÓMEDA) has been installed, with dimensions Ø 2 m x L = 3 m and with specific characteristics for testing optical systems for space application.