Story perspectives

ESA-China SMILE Probe Launches, Targets 121,000 km Magnetosphere Imaging

5/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

SMILE will reach an apogee of 121,000 km to image the Sun-facing side of Earth’s magnetic shield.
The European Space Agency and China’s Academy of Sciences launched SMILE on May 19 from Kourou aboard a Vega C rocket.
The three-year mission will follow a 70-degree inclined, elliptical orbit, observing solar-wind impacts for 40 hours per cycle.
Four instruments, including X-ray and ultraviolet cameras, will view magnetosphere-ionosphere interactions to improve forecasts and protect satellites, power grids and astronauts.

1 of 1

Story summary

SMILE will reach an apogee of 121,000 km to image the Sun-facing side of Earth’s magnetic shield.
The European Space Agency and China’s Academy of Sciences launched SMILE on May 19 from Kourou aboard a Vega C rocket.
The three-year mission will follow a 70-degree inclined, elliptical orbit, observing solar-wind impacts for 40 hours per cycle.
Four instruments, including X-ray and ultraviolet cameras, will view magnetosphere-ionosphere interactions to improve forecasts and protect satellites, power grids and astronauts.