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

European Space Agency @esa 11:58 PM · May 17, 2026
#WatchLive: follow the launch of #Smile on Vega-C #VV29 🚀
Tune into ESA Web TV on 19 May from 05:30 CEST
🔗 http://watch.esa.int

Key milestones expected:
  🚀 05:52 Vega-C liftoff
 👋 06:48 Separation of Smile
 📈 06:49 Acquisition of Smile’s first signal from space
 🛰️ 06:55 Deployment of solar arrays

https://twitter.com/esa/status/2056132274437947688

[Orionid]

116/115/114/109/11)

SMILE na orbicie
  19.05. o 03:52 z Kourou [ELV] wystrzelona została RN Vega-C, która wyniosła na orbitę satelitę SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer).
http://lk.astronautilus.pl/n260516.htm#03
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=60800.100
https://twitter.com/CNES/status/2056584968189382793
https://twitter.com/esa/status/2056585050750156992

Avio @Avio_Group 7:43 AM · May 19, 2026
At 00:52 AM, from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, Avio successfully launched the #Smile scientific satellite. #VV29 mission has been the first #VegaC launch operated by Avio as Launch Service Operator. Read the press release: https://tinyurl.com/ydcnx82v #space #spaceiscloser

https://twitter.com/Avio_Group/status/2056611652284334541

Successful launch in landmark China-Europe joint satellite mission
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2026-05-19 16:12:45
   
KOUROU, French Guiana, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE), a joint mission between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the European Space Agency(ESA), was successfully launched Tuesday aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

Following the launch, the satellite was confirmed to have entered its planned orbit, with its solar arrays successfully deployed and systems operating normally, marking a sweeping success for the landmark collaboration in China-Europe space science.

SMILE marks China's first mission-level project with the ESA in space science exploration.

The satellite will use soft X-ray imaging technology to provide a global view of the large-scale structure of Earth's magnetosphere for the first time.

The mission is expected to deliver a series of scientific breakthroughs in areas including space weather forecasting and the fundamental understanding of magnetospheric physics. ■
https://english.news.cn/20260519/0444beac69c448888f6e9013f465de99/c.html

Space Intelligence @SpaceIntel101 6:08 PM · May 19, 2026
Orbital launch no. 114 of 2026 🇮🇹🚀🇪🇺🇨🇳🛰️
SMILE | AVIO | May 19 | 0352 UTC @AVIO_Group successfully launched SMILE Earth observation🛰️ on its Vega C🚀to  HEO (Highly Eliptical Earth Orbit) from @EuropeSpacePort, French Guiana.
SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) is a European/Chinese collaboration to image the magnetosphere of the Earth in soft X-rays and UV for the first time.

https://x.com/SpaceIntel101/status/2056769039930683400

[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

[Lion97]

Rakieta Vega-C wyniosła sondę Smile (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) na niską orbitę okołoziemską z Centrum Kosmicznego Gujany w Kourou w Gujanie Francuskiej, 19 maja 2026 roku o godzinie 03:52 UTC (00:52 czasu lokalnego). Smile to wspólna misja Europejskiej Agencji Kosmicznej (ESA) i Chińskiej Akademii Nauk (CAS), która „wykorzysta cztery instrumenty naukowe do badania reakcji Ziemi na wiatr słoneczny”. Misja VV29 to pierwszy lot Vega-C realizowany przez firmę Avio.

To był 29 start rakiety Vega, 1 w tym roku oraz 114 próba startu orbitalnego w 2026r

[Orionid]

Zapowiada się ciekawie.

Smile lifts off on quest to reveal Earth’s invisible shield against the solar wind
19/05/2026

It will reveal how Earth responds to the streams of particles and bursts of radiation from the Sun, using an X-ray camera to make the world’s first X-ray observations of Earth’s magnetic shield, and an ultraviolet camera to watch the resulting northern lights non-stop for 45 hours at a time.

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Smile/Smile_lifts_off_on

China Focus: SMILE in sky: a new chapter in China-Europe space science cooperation
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2026-05-19 14:44:30
   
(...) Originating from a cooperative initiative jointly launched by CAS and ESA in 2015, the SMILE project has established an equal, mutually beneficial, and complementary mechanism for cooperation.

China is fully responsible for satellite platform development, telemetry and control, ground support, and the construction of science application systems, and leads the development of the UVI, LIA, and MAG payloads. The European side is responsible for the payload module and SXI development, and provides the launch vehicle, launch site, and active-phase telemetry and control support.

The satellite's main payloads are all jointly developed by China and Europe. The SXI is led by the University of Leicester in the UK, with Chinese participation; the UVI is led by China, with Europe providing critical components; the LIA and MAG are led by China, with multiple leading European research institutions participating in development and calibration.

During in-orbit operations, Chinese and European scientists will jointly conduct data processing and analysis, with scientific data openly shared with research institutions worldwide. (...)
https://english.news.cn/20260519/7fb5d6813faa4a4e9b06c3b01871e85a/c.html

Smile deployment

[Orionid]

Wu Lei @wulei2020 5:27 PM · May 19, 2026
SMILE: Mission goals, payloads & China-Europe collaboration
What is the primary scientific objective of #SMILE?
How many scientific payloads does it carry? And how do the @esa and the @CAS__Science divide their responsibilities?

https://twitter.com/wulei2020/status/2056758762707284214

Wu Lei @wulei2020 6:30 AM · May 18, 2026
Let’s #SMILE! Mark your calendars!
The SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) satellite is set to launch aboard a Vega-C rocket from French Guiana at 00:52 local time on May 19.
SMILE is jointly developed by @CAS__Science & @esa.

https://twitter.com/wulei2020/status/2056230815424487524

European Space Agency@esa Last edited 7:33 AM · May 19, 2026
✅ Mission success for Smile. 
Following lift-off on Vega-C at 05:52 CEST, separation at 06:48 CEST and solar panels deployment at 06:49 CEST, Smile is now underway to study Earth’s magnetic shield.
🔗 https://esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Smile/Smile_lifts_off_on_quest_to_reveal_Earth_s_invisible_shield_against_the_solar_wind

https://x.com/esa/status/2056609171835945236

Josef Aschbacher @AschbacherJosef 11:28 AM · May 19, 2026
Today, ESA’s SMILE mission lifted off on a Vega-C and on a unique scientific journey: to observe and understand Earth’s magnetic shield and how it interacts with the solar wind.

This mission will provide a new global view of the dynamic boundary that protects our planet, helping us better understand space weather and its effects on our technologies and infrastructure on Earth.

SMILE is a powerful example of international cooperation in action: a joint endeavour bringing together European and Chinese expertise to advance our knowledge of the Sun–Earth system.

With SMILE, Europe continues to lead in space science: pushing the frontiers of discovery, strengthening partnerships, and delivering knowledge that benefits society on Earth.

Congratulations to all teams involved across ESA, industry, and our partners who have made this mission possible.

https://twitter.com/AschbacherJosef/status/2056668314072478075

Chefdecorps3REI @Chefdecorps3REI 12:11 PM · May 19, 2026
Translated from French
#OperationTitan VV 29 Launch under the protection of the #3REI. Mission successful. Satellite SMILE placed into orbit, the result of the most significant collaboration mission between @esa and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
#FAG #ForeignLegion

https://twitter.com/Chefdecorps3REI/status/2056679011187614141

Stephane SEBILE @spacemen1969 6:11 PM · May 21, 2026
maintenant que la mission Smile est bien en route, je peux le ranger (il n'est donc plus en attente 😉)

https://x.com/spacemen1969/status/2057494442873905637

[Orionid]

ESA Science @esascience 6:49 AM · May 19, 2026
Time to say goodbye to Vega-C!
Smile has separated from the Vega-C upper stage and is now flying solo.

https://x.com/esascience/status/2056598200308408373