Smile launch and solar panel deployment (artist impression)

3… 2… 1… lift off!

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.

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.

Watch Smile’s orbit transfer and magnetometer boom deployment (artist impression) here.

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