Q&A: Leuven scientists look for life in space

What is unique about Plato?
Plato will be equipped with 26 identical telescopes, each with their own camera. The use of so many telescopes will make it possible to analyse hundreds of thousands of nearby host stars and their planets over the course of several years. That’s about 10 times the number of stars and planets analysed by Nasa’s Kepler telescope.

The mission will, for example, measure the so-called starquakes to determine the mass, radius and age of the host stars and their planets. These are essential factors in determining whether or not a planet can support life.

How will you search for life on other planets?
KU Leuven is also involved in a separate project to build a satellite called Ariel. This satellite will analyse in detail the atmosphere of promising planets detected by Plato. After two years in space, Plato should have found thousands of planets with the potential to support life. Ariel will check if their atmosphere could support oxygen and water. We expect to have the satellite approved by the European Space Agency by the end of the year.

What is your role in the Plato project?
I’ve been personally involved in its development since the very beginning, some 10 years ago. Among other things, my team at KU Leuven will be responsible for calibrating the cameras.

Up to 8% of Plato’s observation time will be available for projects that are not related to its core mission, and scientists can already suggest their own. My team will promote the use of Plato’s data in the scientific community.

How does society benefit from this initiative?
In the short term, the project will create jobs, increase the interest in science among young people and lead to the development of new technologies, including more powerful computers and better sensors.

The main goal, however, is to get closer to answering the question we’ve all been asking ourselves: Are we alone in the universe?

Photo: Rob Stevens/KU Leuven