Attitude Control and Jitter Photometric Correction of PLATO 2.0 Space Mission

Abstract

This research project aims to develop calibration and instrumental corrections algorithms and an Attitude Control System simulator for the scientific space mission PLATO 2.0 (PLanetary Transits and Oscillations of stars), dedicated to the search for exoplanets and characterization of their host stars.The PLATO 2.0 mission is a European scientific satellite with Brazilian participation, which is being developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) within its scientific program called "Cosmic Vision" in its medium-sized satellites class. The satellite will be launched into an Earth-Sun L2 orbit (second Lagrange point) around 2024 by a Soyuz-Fregat launcher from the Kourou base, French Guiana.The mission is based on high precision photometry that will revolutionize our knowledge of stellar evolution, exoplanets, and their planetary systems.The payload consortium is composed of different European countries and Brazil. The Observatory of Paris is responsible for defining the instrumental corrections and calibrations of both the flight software and the ground segment of the mission.Such instrumental corrections and calibrations determine the final accuracy of scientific data that will be delivered to the scientific community, with more than 1,000 scientists around the globe.In this context, the participation of Brazil, and specifically, the EPUSP, puts us in a leading position in space technology with applications in astronomy, and the research project to be developed jointly between the EPUSP and the Observatory of Paris proposed in this document will contribute directly to that. The jitter photometric correction algorithm that forms the scope of this research will contribute unequivocally to obtain the desired instrumental performance and scientific mission goals.