Smile delivered to space (artist impression, GIF)

This is a GIF from a cinematic animation. Click here to view the animation in full.

The joint European-Chinese Smile mission will launch this spring from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, on a Vega-C rocket.

Following liftoff, the first, second and third stages of the rocket will be released one by one, before Smile finally separates from the fourth (upper) stage 57 minutes after launch. This GIF shows the moment that Smile separates from the fourth stage. Find out more about the different Vega-C stages here.

Around 5–10 minutes later, Smile will deploy its solar arrays, stretching them out ready to collect the sunlight necessary to power its onboard systems and science instruments.

Using X-ray and ultraviolet cameras, as well as particle and magnetic field detectors, Smile will give humankind its first complete look at how Earth reacts to streams and bursts of particles and radiation from the Sun.

By improving our understanding of the solar wind, solar storms and space weather, Smile will fill a stark gap in our understanding of the Solar System and help keep our technology and astronauts safe in the future.

Smile (the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) is a joint mission between the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.