The PLATO Ground Segment, shown in Figure 1 on the right, covers the in-flight operations of the satellite, such that the mission objectives can be met. The PLATO Operations Ground Segment consists of the Ground Station Facilities and the Mission Operations Centre (MOC), which operates the spacecraft and creates the telemetry and flight dynamics products. The PLATO Science Ground Segment (SGS) is responsible for the end-to-end handling of the PLATO data and production of the PLATO scientific data products (DPs). The major systems within the SGS are: the ESA provided PLATO Science Operations Centre (SOC), and the PLATO Mission Consortium (PMC) provided SGS components, which are the PLATO Data Centre (PDC) and PLATO Science Preparation Management (PSPM).
As seen in the figure below, the PDC structure is divided into 8 top-level components/WPs, under the overall coordination of the PLATO Data Processing Manager (PDPM). The PDC will be responsible for defining and developing all the software tools to be run at the SOC for the production of the L1 data products, as well as for the preparation of the monitoring runs. The PDC will also deliver to the SOC the necessary tools for the validation and optimization of the onboard processing. As illustrated in the SGS data flow diagram below, the PDC will be responsible for the technical specifications and the implementation of the software tools to process the scientific L2 data products. The PDC will include a main data base (PDC-DB at MPSSR) that will comprise the PLATO data products, the input catalogue, and all the ancillary data on the PLATO targets that are required for the processing of the L2 data products, in particular, specifically acquired ground-based follow-up observations. The PDC will also generate the validated PLATO input catalogue and manage the ancillary data. Computing resources will be distributed among five Data Processing Centers: PDPC-C at IoA-Cambridge for the exoplanet analysis system, PDPC-I at IAS for the stellar analysis system, PDPC-A at ASI for the Input Catalog, PDPC-L for the ancillary data management, PDPC-M at MPSSR for running of the data analysis support tools.
More information regarding the Definition Phase activities of the PDC can be found online:
http://www.mps.mpg.de/projects/seismo/PLATO/index.html
The PDC timeline for Definition Phase A is shown in the figure below:
PL
AT
O S
cien
ce P
rep
arat
ion
M
anag
emen
t
TLM109 Gb @ 3.5h/day
PLATO DATA CENTER
Data Processing Algorithms
(LESIA WP320)
Data Processing Development
(MPSSR WP330)
Ancillary Data Management
PDPC-L(LAM WP350)
Exoplanet PDPC-C(IoA-Cam WP360)
Stellar PDPC-I(IAS WP370)
Data Analysis Support Tools
PDPC-M(MPSSR WP380)
GS/MOC (ESOC)
SOC (ESAC)
PLATOArchive
TC
TLM &Auxiliary
TC params &onboard sw
Feedback to L2 processing
L0, L1, Ancillary
L0, L1, Stellar L2, Ancillary
Input Catalog
Ancillary
Ancillary
Exoplanet L2 (DP2 DP6)
Stellar L2 (DP3 DP4 DP5)
PD
C D
ata
ba
se
(M
PS
SR
WP
31
0)
Input Catalog
Ancillary
L0/L1
L2
L0 L1Input
Catalog
Ancillary
L2
L0/L1
Other
Input Catalog PDPC-A
(ASI WP340)
L0/L1 software
L0/L1 algorithms
parameters for tuning onboard software
PDC OperationsManager
(formerly PDPM)
HK
PLATO Payload(CNES)
Payload DatabaseExport File
L0/L1processing
The scientific outputs of the PLATO mission are the key science data products DP1 through DP6, shown in the table below. These will be generated as outputs from various 'levels' of the processing chain.
February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011
March 10
Updated WBS,
WPDs and Cost
Tables to Project Office
Late March
Drafts of
SOCD, SIRD
and SIP to ESA
PLATO Data Centre Phase A Timeline
April 13
Phase A Report
to Project Office
April 29
Release of Delta AO Package (SOCD, SIRD,
SMP) by ESA
May 11
Updated WPDs and
Cost Tables to Project Office
Mid May
Updated SIP for PIRR
July 1
Updated Implementation Phase Proposal,
SIRD, SIP, SOCD, Red
Book to ESA
February
23-25
PLATO Science
Conference (Berlin)
March 17
v1 Drafts of RMP,
PAP, CMP ready
April 13-14 or
27-28
5th PDC Meeting (Lindau)
Early March
Response to
ESA/SGS AO panel
= ESA Deadline
= Internal PDC Deadline
The definition phase objectives of the SGS are to establish the technical (PDC) and scientific (PSPM) requirements baseline for the SGS and to develop the operations concept, architecture and interfaces. The definition phase activities of the PDC and PSPM are organized according to the following guidelines: • PSPM provides the scientific specifications of the software • PDC translates the scientific specifications into technical specifications • PDC implements technical specifications • PSPM checks that the PDC software is consistent with the initial
scientific specifications. This validation by PSPM occurs within the PDC – a normal part of the development QA process.
Figure 1
Figure 3
Figure 4
!
PLATO InstrumentManager (P. Bodin)
320 000
R. SamadiLESIA
Data Processing Algorithms
310 000
R. BurstonMPSSR
System Architecture and Management
330 000
I. PardowitzMPSSR
Data Processing Development
340 000
P. GiommiASDC-ASI
Input Catalogue
350 000
M. DeleuilLAM
Ancillary Data Management
360 000
N. WaltonIoA-Cam
Exoplanet Analysis System
370 000
T. AppourchauxIAS
Stellar Analysis System
380 000
L. GizonMPSSR
Data Analysis Support Tools
300 000
L. Gizon (PDPM)MPSSR
PDC Overall Management
310 001PDC-DB
340 001PDPC-A
350 001PDPC-L
360 001PDPC-C
370 001PDPC-I
380 001PDPC-M
Figure 2