Vega C Rocket Successfully Launches European-Chinese Space Weather Satellite to Orbit
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have successfully launched the SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) mission into orbit. The launch took place on May 18, 2026, from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, using a Vega C rocket. The mission aims to study the effects of the solar wind on Earth's magnetosphere, which is crucial for understanding solar and geomagnetic storms. The SMILE spacecraft, equipped with four scientific instruments, will provide valuable data on space weather phenomena. The mission is a collaborative effort, with ESA providing the payload module and one of the instruments, while the Chinese Academy of Sciences is responsible for the satellite platform and three other instruments. The mission is expected to last three years, with the first scientific data anticipated three months post-launch. 
