Wide view of Vega-C liftoff with Smile

Vega-C liftoff from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana at 00:52 local time (04:52 BST/05:52 CEST) on 19 May 2026. Vega-C carried the Smile mission to space on flight VV29.

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

Find out more about Vega-C.

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 taking off from a launchpad. It is surrounded by four metal pylons and clouds of smoke.]