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SAXO+[1, 2] is the second-stage adaptive optics module for the SPHERE[3] instrument at VLT, proposed to boost the current performances of detection and characterization of exoplanets and as a pathfinder for the future planet finder (PCS) of the European ELT. It will work in combination with the SAXO[4] first-stage xAO system measuring and reducing the residual wavefront errors. SAXO+ will be implemented on a mezzanine above the main bench and it will be fed by an exchange mechanism deploying a pick-off mirror in order to preserve all the fuctionalities of the original instrument. Optical interfaces at the output are left unchanged for the scientific instruments downstream. We present in this paper the actual status of the SAXO+ baseline opto-mechanical design and its major challenges.
