Smile mission milestones

Smile (the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) is a joint mission between the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It will give humankind its first complete look at how Earth reacts to streams of particles and bursts of radiation from the Sun.

This infographic lists the main milestones in the lead up to, and following, launch of the spacecraft. The launch window is set for 8 April – 7 May 2026, on a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

Follow the mission at esa.int/smile

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