This coordinated project focuses on the scientific preparations for the European Space Agency's PLATO mission, which aims to advance our knowledge of extrasolar planetary systems and their host stars by analysing planetary transits and by asteroseismic studies, based on high-precision light curves obtained by the mission. The project is part of a larger Spanish contribution to PLATO, for which several hardware and software elements have been provided through previous projects of the National R&D&I Plan and by other funding.

The main objective of the project is to ensure the scientific preparation for the flight phase of PLATO, which is scheduled for launch at the end of 2026. The project aims to position the participating teams as leaders in PLATO data analysis, covering both core and extended science objectives. Key areas include exoplanet science, stellar and asteroseismic science preparations, and ongoing technical support. It also includes preparations for a renewed HAYDN mission proposal to ESA, which is an initiative for high-precision asteroseismology of stars in open and globular clusters, and support for the NOMAD instrument on the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. 

Basic science preparations within PLATO include the preparation and coordination of ground-based follow-up of planet candidates, the detection of circumbinary planets, the development of algorithms for calibrating light curves for asteroseismic analysis, and packages for preparing frequency grids of stellar oscillations and for the quality assurance of PLATO's stellar analysis pipeline. Beyond basic science, the project extends to theoretical and computational developments, and to the analysis of data from existing space missions such as TESS and CHEOPS, supported by further data from ground-based instruments. It includes studies of differential rotation and magnetic activity cycles, internal rotation profiles of solar-type stars, non-linear pulsations in delta Scuti stars, stellar characterisation by machine learning, and exoplanet characterisation and habitability. 

Technical support to PLATO during integration and commisioning is a crucial aspect of the project, focusing on the Main Electronic Unit (MEU) and the MEU Power Supply Unit (MEU-PSU) during the various phases of PLATO integration. For the preparation of a renewed HAYDN proposal to the next ESA M8 mission call, the project contributes with the coordination of the Spanish participants, and the definition of requirements and design studies for several subsystems, such as a Data Processing Unit/Instrument Control Unit and the Power Supply Unit (PSU), as well as studies for the characterisation of stars in the fields of view of HAYDN. The project also includes software support for the NOMAD instrument on the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, a mission in its 'science orbit' around Mars since 2018, focused on the analysis of the Martian atmosphere.