Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE)
Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) launched on Vega-C (Avio S.p.A) from Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, Tue, 19 May 2026, 03:52 UTC. Result: Launch Successful.
Joint mission between the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences to investigate the interaction between Earth’s protective shield – the magnetosphere – and the supersonic solar wind.
- Rocket
- Vega-C
- Provider
- Avio S.p.A
- Launch site
- Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
- Destination
- Elliptical Orbit
- Status
- Launch Successful
- Mission type
- Astrophysics