Vega-C | Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE)

Mission

Astrophysics · Elliptical

Joint mission between the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences to investigate the interaction between Earth’s protective shield – the magnetosphere – and the supersonic solar wind.

Where to watch

In the news

• APOD: 2026 October 6 – A Complete Auroral Oval from SMILE NASA, 6 Oct 2026
• ESA, CAS release first images from SMILE; officially begin science operations NASASpaceflight, 4 Oct 2026

Headlines via the Spaceflight News API.