The PLATO Payload Data Processing System SpaceWire network

TL;DR

The paper discusses the design and implementation of the PLATO Payload Data Processing System's SpaceWire network, which manages high data volumes from multiple telescopes for exoplanet detection.

Contribution

It presents a detailed architecture of the SpaceWire network and data processing system tailored for the PLATO mission's high data throughput requirements.

Findings

Efficient data handling for 26 telescopes with high-resolution CCDs.

Integration of SpaceWire network at 100 MHz for rapid data transfer.

Successful management of large data volumes for exoplanet discovery.

Abstract

PLATO has been selected and adopted by ESA as the third medium-class Mission (M3) of the Cosmic Vision Program, to be launched in 2026 with a Soyuz-Fregat rocket from the French Guiana. Its Payload is based on a suite of 26 telescopes and cameras in order to discover and characterise, thanks to ultra-high accurate photometry and the transits method, new exoplanets down to the range of Earth analogues. Each camera is composed of 4 CCDs working in full frame or frame-transfer mode. 24 cameras out of 26 host 4510 by 4510 pixels CCDs, operated in full-frame mode with a pixel depth of 16 bits and a cadence of 25 s. Given the huge data volume to be managed, the PLATO Payload relies on an efficient Data Processing System (DPS) whose Units perform images windowing, cropping and compression. Each camera and DPS Unit is connected to a fast SpaceWire network running at 100 MHz and interfaced to the satellite On-Board Computer by means of an Instrument Control Unit (ICU), performing data collection and compression.