Vega-C for Smile revealed on the launch pad

A view of Vega-C on the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana as its mobile hangar rolls away to reveal the rocket around midnight local time 18 May 2026. Vega-C will carry Smile to space on flight VV29 on 19 May 2026. The rocket was built up stage-by-stage inside the mobile hangar that rolls away about four hours before launch.

Vega-C is made up of four stages, with the fairing (a nose cone that splits into two) sitting on top of the fourth stage. The fairing will protect Smile during its ascent to space through Earth’s atmosphere. Almost five minutes after liftoff, the fairing will split open, revealing Smile inside. At that point, Smile will still be attached to the third and fourth stages of the Vega-C.

Find out more about Smile’s journey from launch to orbit.

Find out more about the Vega launch site.

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

The Vega-C programme is led by ESA, working with Avio as prime contractor and design authority. It ensures that Europe has versatile and independent access to space.

[Image description: A night-time photo showing a rocket inside a building lit by floodlights. Four lightning deflector pylons surround the tall building. A photographer dressed in an orange overall is at the base of the building and rocket in front of a tripod.]