Ariane 62 | PLATO

Ariane 62 Set to Launch ESA's PLATO Mission in 2026

On December 31, 2026, Europe's space ambitions will take a significant step forward with the launch of the Ariane 62 rocket carrying the PLATO mission from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. This event marks a pivotal moment for the European Space Agency (ESA), combining advanced rocketry with cutting-edge astrophysics to probe the mysteries of distant worlds.

At the heart of the mission is PLATO, an acronym for PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars. This sophisticated observatory, equipped with 26 high-precision cameras, is designed to detect and characterize terrestrial exoplanets orbiting Sun-like stars, focusing on those in habitable zones where liquid water could exist. By monitoring tiny dips in starlight caused by planetary transits, PLATO will measure exoplanet sizes with unprecedented accuracy, potentially identifying exomoons, rings, and even planetary atmospheres. Additionally, the mission will employ asteroseismology—analyzing stellar oscillations—to reveal details about the host stars' interiors, ages, and compositions. This dual approach promises to refine our understanding of planetary formation and habitability, building on data from predecessors like NASA's Kepler and TESS. With a planned operational lifespan of at least four years in a Lissajous orbit around the L2 Lagrange point, PLATO's payload capabilities could catalog thousands of exoplanets, offering insights into whether Earth-like worlds are common in the galaxy.

The Ariane 62 rocket, a variant of the Ariane 6 family, represents Europe's response to the evolving demands of the global launch market. Standing approximately 63 meters tall and weighing around 530 tons at liftoff, it features a core stage powered by the Vulcain 2.1 engine, which burns liquid hydrogen and oxygen to produce 1,370 kN of thrust. Augmented by two P120 solid rocket boosters, the Ariane 62 is optimized for lighter payloads, with a capacity of up to 10.3 tons to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) or 21.6 tons to low Earth orbit (LEO). Its upper stage, the APU-equipped Vinci engine, allows for multiple restarts, enabling precise orbital insertions. This design emphasizes cost-efficiency and reliability, incorporating lessons from the Ariane 5's heritage while introducing modular boosters that can scale to the heavier Ariane 64 configuration for more demanding missions.

The Ari