Plato on the QUAD shaker

In this image, Plato is situated on top of ESA’s QUAD shaker to simulate the vibrations encountered during launch. This test was essential to make sure Plato can survive the first two minutes of launch, during which the most extreme vibrations are encountered.

[Image description: An engineer looks upon the structural model of Plato, placed on top of the QUAD shaker at ESA’s ESTEC Test Centre. The engineer wears a lab coat and a hair net. Plato’s structural model is twice as high as the person and its upper part has 26 cylindrical shaped cameras attached. Plato sits on top of an octagonal-shaped shaker built into the floor.]