Vega-C | Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE)

Name: Vega-C | Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE)
Start: 2026-05-19T03:52:10Z
Location: Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

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.

Mission Details

Launch date: May 19, 2026 at 03:52 AM UTC
Launch vehicle: Vega-C
Operator: Avio S.p.A
Launch site: Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Mission type: Astrophysics