The PLATO mission

The PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO) mission is in its definition study phase in the context of ESA's Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 program. PLATO is applying for a launch in 2017/18. Its goal is to detect transiting exoplanets, including terrestrial planets in the habitable zone, and to determine their basic parameters with unprecedented accuracy. In combination with the detailed analysis of the stellar parameters by astroseismology and with ground-based follow-up observations, this will allow characterizing the main properties of exoplanetary systems to a level not achieved before.