Payload for ESA PLATO Mission to be Developed in Ireland

A €3.4M contract from German space company OHB System AG to design, develop and deliver the PayLoad Interface Unit (PLIU) for the European Space Agency (ESA) PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO) mission that will be launched in 2026, was awarded to Realtime Technologies earlier this year.

The company and its Réaltra Division in Dublin will design and build the PLIU, the largest space electronics hardware contribution and the largest ever single contract awarded to an Irish company for an ESA Science mission. The PLIU will provide the thermal control system for the telescopes on the PLATO spacecraft to help underpin the mission’s objective of understanding how our Universe was formed and whether life exists outside of our own solar system.

The contract will also support an increase in high-quality employment in design, engineering and manufacturing roles in north Dublin and in the supply chain companies located around Ireland.

John Halligan TD, Minister for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, who announced the contract award, said “I am delighted to be here today to announce the signing of this significant contract between OHB System AG and Réaltra to provide the PayLoad Interface Unit for ESA’s PLATO mission. The awarding of this contract is a significant achievement for Réaltra and demonstrates how Irish space companies can succeed in the delivery of cutting-edge space technologies. The world-class activities in Réaltra are building the reputation of Ireland’s space technology sector in the global marketplace and creating high-value jobs in Irish companies in line with the Irish Government’s strategy for growing the space sector. I wish Réaltra and Realtime every success in the continued growth of its space activities.”