Paper 13099-51
Status of the PLATO camera product assurance activities and their management
On demand | Presented live 18 June 2024
Abstract
PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) is an M3 medium-class space mission in ESA’s Cosmic Vision program devoted to detecting and studying a large number of extrasolar planetary systems. Its launch is planned for the end of 2026 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The PLATO Payload consists of 26 wide field-of-view Cameras, each observing a specific part of the sky, associated data processing units and power supply units. The 24 Normal-Cameras will provide a very high-resolution photometric measurement of light from a large number of stars, while the other two Fast Cameras will provide the colour information and will deliver the pointing data to the AOCS (Attitude and Orbital Control System). The Cameras will be integrated into an optical bench. Each of them is composed of the Telescope Optical Unit (TOU), the Focal Plane Assembly (FPA) and the Front-End Electronics (FEE). Currently, the serial production of the Cameras has already started facing critical key points, non-conformities and challenging problems. The status of the Product Assurance activities during the serial production for which the first flight models are being delivered after the AIT phase is reported.
Presenter
Natalia Auricchio
INAF - Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio (Italy)
Natalia Auricchio
Education
Ph.D. in Physics, University of Bologna (Italy)
Postgraduate Certificate in “Management of Health Systems”, University of Bologna (Italy)
Laurea (Master’s) degree in Physics, University of Bologna (Italy)
Current research position
Permanent research staff member at INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio in Bologna, Italy
Main roles
She is NISP Warm Unit/SW Product Assurance Manager (Euclid), Plato Camera PA Manager, HW & ASW ICU Product Assurance/Quality Assurance Manager (Athena), HERMES-SP and HERMES-TP Payload Quality Manager), PA/QA Manager of the ARIEL ICU Hardware and Fine Guidance System DCU and THESEUS XGIS PA Manager/Payload PA Manager
Publications
106 Refereed publications
126 non-refereed publications and conference proceedings
125 Internal reports and technical documents
Relevant awards
Honorific status of Builder, assigned by the Euclid Consortium Board
EUclid Consortium Long-term Exceptional Achievement Reward