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