Vega-C VV29 | SMILE | 19.05.2026

[Orionid]

ESA Selects Grounded Vega C to Launch SMILE Mission
By Andrew Parsonson -April 30, 2024
https://europeanspaceflight.com/esa-selects-grounded-vega-c-to-launch-smile-mission/

China-Europe SMILE satellite ready for launch
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2026-03-26 18:56:30
   
BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE), a satellite jointly developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the European Space Agency (ESA), has completed all pre-launch preparations at the space launch site in Kourou, French Guiana, and is scheduled for launch on April 9 local time, according to the CAS on Thursday.

The SMILE satellite mission represents China's first mission-level, all-around in-depth cooperation with the ESA in the field of space science exploration.

The satellite will apply soft X-ray imaging technology to achieve, for the first time, a global view of the large-scale structure of Earth's magnetosphere. It is, notably, expected to yield a series of scientific breakthroughs in areas such as space weather forecasting and fundamental understanding of magnetospheric physics.

The SMILE satellite has been mounted on a Vega-C launch vehicle.

At present, the launch window has been determined, and the joint team is closely monitoring and verifying weather conditions at the launch site, as well as the final technical status of both the rocket and satellite. ■

https://english.news.cn/20260326/837fa8284bc44e098db0049c56d740bb/c.html

European Space Agency@esa 1:26 PM · Feb 20, 2026
🚢 Smile sets sail for Europe’s Spaceport.

With a launch window opening on 8 April for its Vega-C #VV29 flight, the joint ESA/CAS #Smile spacecraft is almost ready to embark on its mission to study how Earth responds to the solar wind.
🔗 http://esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Smile/Smile_sets_sail_for_Europe_s_Spaceport_in_French_Guiana
@esascience @Avio_Group @ESA_transport @CNES @EuropeSpacePort @Arianespace

https://twitter.com/esa/status/2024822860405981238

ESA Space Transport @ESA_transport 10:39 AM · Mar 12, 2026
This is what #VV29 will look like in space 🚀

Smile (the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) is a joint mission between
@esascience  and @CAS__Science Europe’s Vega-C rocket can launch 2300 kg into space, such as small scientific and Earth observation spacecraft.
@Avio_Group @EuropeSpacePort @esa

https://twitter.com/ESA_transport/status/2032028760757752070

Phazzee 🐼🚀 | 中国航天 🇨🇳 | 🇵🇸🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 @PhazzeeYeehaw 12:45 PM · Apr 4, 2026
The SMILE space weather satellite, a collaboration between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the European Space Agency, has been placed atop of a Vega-C rocket for an April 9th launch!

Details -> https://china-in-space.com/p/sino-european-space-weather-satellite-126

https://twitter.com/PhazzeeYeehaw/status/2040380131286438242

[Orionid]

Start został przełożony z powodu problemu technicznego, który wystąpił na linii produkcyjnej komponentów podsystemu po integracji RN VV29.
Nowa data startu ma zostać wkrótce ogłoszona.

Avio @Avio_Group
Update on #VV29 mission: launch of the #Smile satellite has been postponed, due to a technical issue occurred on a subsystem component production line after VV29 launcher integration. The new launch date will be announced. Read the press release: https://tinyurl.com/yjheap5w #space

https://x.com/Avio_Group/status/2041065266247790838

2) Satelita SMILE został przetransportowany i przeniesiony do budynku przygotowawczego EPCU w kosmodromie CSG
8:52 AM · Mar 11, 2026
https://x.com/Kosmo_Michal/status/2031625595604361601

[Orionid]

Nowa data startu: NET 19.05.2026 o 05:52 CEST.

Michal Vaclavik @Kosmo_Michal 9:50 AM · Apr 24, 2026
The delayed launch of the Vega-C carrier rocket with the European-Chinese scientific satellite SMILE is now scheduled for May 19 at 05:52 CEST. Approximately 57 minutes after liftoff, the satellite will be released from the upper stage AVUM+ and will gradually increase the altitude of its apogee to 121,000 km above the North Pole.

https://x.com/Kosmo_Michal/status/2047583938764227037

European Space Agency @esa 9:12 AM · Apr 24, 2026
🚀 #Smile is set to launch on 19 May 2026, at 04:52 BST / 05:52 CEST, on Vega‑C #VV29 from Europe’s Spaceport, to study how Earth responds to solar activity.
🔗https://esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Smile/Smile_set_to_launch_on_19_May
@Avio_Group @CAS__Science @esascience @ESA_transport @EuropeSpacePort

https://twitter.com/esa/status/2047574277059166549

[Orionid]

W CSG (Guiana Space Centre) zakończono integrację RN Vega-C z adapterem satelitarnym, ładunkiem i osłoną aerodynamiczną.

Michal Vaclavik @Kosmo_Michal 7:19 AM · May 9, 2026
Translated from Czech
At the Guiana Space Centre (CSG) in French Guiana, the integration of the Vega-C launcher with the satellite adapter, payload, and aerodynamic fairing has been completed. During the launch, scheduled for May 19 at 05:52 CEST, the European-Chinese scientific satellite SMILE will be delivered into orbit.

https://x.com/Kosmo_Michal/status/2052981853049512138

UK Space Agency @spacegovuk 1:05 PM · May 17, 2026
@ESA Smile is set to launch next Tuesday, and will help us understand how we can protect our critical infrastructure from solar weather. ☀️
The UK is playing a pivotal role in this ambitious science mission. 🛰️
Learn more about what makes SMILE unique. 👇

https://twitter.com/spacegovuk/status/2055967962230595713

[Lion97]

Za kilka godzin SMILE poleci w kosmos rakietą Vega-C z europejskiego kosmodromu w Gujanie Francuskiej.

Po raz pierwszy SMILE ujawni, co tak naprawdę dzieje się, gdy naładowane cząstki ze Słońca uderzają w tarczę magnetyczną Ziemi. Na pokładzie znajduje się kamera rentgenowska, która przeprowadzi pierwsze obserwacje rentgenowskie, aby dokładnie określić, jak tarcza reaguje na wiatr słoneczny, oraz kamera ultrafioletowa, która będzie obserwować powstającą zorzę polarną przez 45 godzin.

[Orionid]

Przed startem

Centre spatial guyanais @EuropeSpacePort 4:17 AM · May 19, 2026
from French Guiana
Translated from French
H0-1h34min before the launch of the 1st Vega-C mission of the year at CSG 🚀
Launch between 00h52 and 01h32 (Kourou), 05h52 and 06h32 (Paris).
More info on the mission at http://centrespatialguyanais.fr

https://twitter.com/EuropeSpacePort/status/2056559850054647905

[Orionid]

19.05.2026 o 03:52 UTC z wyrzutni ELV w Kourou wystrzelona została RN Vega-C, która wyniosła na orbitę satelitę SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer).

https://english.news.cn/20260519/dfbdc1d70e3c430d9127a24437271b49/c.html
https://twitter.com/CNES/status/2056584968189382793
https://twitter.com/esa/status/2056585050750156992

[Orionid]

ESA Space Transport @ESA_transport 6:03 AM · May 19, 2026
A Vega-C launch goes quickly! Just eight minutes after liftoff and Smile is already coasting 200 km above our planet.
🛰️🌍
In order: P120C fired and separated, Zefiro-40 fired and separated, fairing was jettisoned, and Zefiro-9 stage has now taken over.

https://twitter.com/ESA_transport/status/2056586628768928159