Vega-C | Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE)
Launch Successful
L - -- : -- : -- : --
Instantaneous launch window.
Launch Window
May 19, 2026, 3:52 a.m. - May 19, 2026, 3:52 a.m.
Instantaneous launch window.
May 19, 2026, 3:52 a.m. - May 19, 2026, 3:52 a.m.
On 19 May 2026 at 00:52 a.m. local time (03:52 UTC, 05:52 CEST), Avio will launch the European Space Agency’s (ESA) and Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (Smile) scientific satellite. The mission, designated “VV29”, will be carried out by a Vega-C launcher, the first …
Le 19 mai 2026 à 0 h 52, heure locale (03 h 52 UTC, 05 h 52 CEST), Avio procédera au lancement du satellite scientifique Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE), mission conjointe de l’ESA et de la CAS. Le vol, désigné « VV29 », sera réalisé par un …
Il 19 maggio 2026 alle 00:52 ora locale (03:52 UTC, 05:52 CEST), Avio lancerà il satellite scientifico Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (Smile) dell’ESA e la CAS. Il volo, denominato “VV29” sarà effettuato da un lanciatore Vega-C, per la prima volta operato da Avio, che decollerà dal Centro Spaziale …
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.
Launch success with spacecraft acquisition & solar panels deployment.
Spacecraft separation.
Liftoff.
Tweaked T-0.
Official Webcast by European Space Agency, ESA has started
Vega-C is a single-body rocket nearly 35 m high with that weighs 210 tonnes on the launch pad. As with Vega, its main elements are three solid-propellant stages, an upper stage powered by a reignitable liquid-propellant engine and a payload fairing. Vega-C's P120C first stage replaces Vega’s smaller P80 to provide a significant increase in thrust at liftoff. It is also used as boosters (2 or 4) for the Ariane 6 rocket.
See DetailsAvio S.p.A. is an Italian company operating in the aerospace sector with its head office in Colleferro near Rome, Italy. Founded in 1908, it is present in Italy and abroad with different commercial offices and 10 production sites.
INFO WIKI
ESA and China recently launched the joint SMILE magnetosphere mission after a decade of cooperation, but despite similar goals, another collaboration appears distant. The post After cooperation on SMILE mission, ESA and China chart parall…
Smile successfully launched from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on 19 May 2026.
The SMILE mission developed jointly by the European Space Agency and China has reached orbit after more than a decade of preparations and cooperation. The post ESA-China SMILE mission lifts off to deliver first global images of Earth’s ma…
Six launches are scheduled worldwide during the next week, with the 12th flight of SpaceX’s… The post Launch Preview: Falcon 9, Electron, and Vega C launch missions alongside Starship Flight 12 appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
A batch of 9 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites for the Chinese state owned SatNet constellation operated by the China Satellite Network Group.…
A batch of 24 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
Classified payload for the US National Reconnaissance Office.
2 Chinese classified satellites claimed to be for communication technology test purposes. Actual mission not known.
Tianlian is a Chinese data tracking and relay communications geostationary satellite series. The TL-3 (Tian Lian 3) satellites are the 3rd generation…
A batch of 24 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
13th test flight of the two-stage Starship launch vehicle. Second flight of Starship V3. For the first time, Starship will carry 20 V3 Starlink sa…
Share-ride of 5 commercial Earth observation and technology demonstration satellites to SSO, including SpaceTY's TY-48. Details TBD.
Tianlian is a Chinese data tracking and relay communications geostationary satellite series. The TL 2 (Tian Lian 2) satellites represent the second g…
Carried 9 satellites on a share-ride to sun-synchronous orbit. Details TBD.
