Smile, the ESA and Chinese Academy of Sciences mission to watch the solar wind, starts science operations
2 October 2026
The European Space Agency has announced that Smile, the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer, has begun its science operations.
Smile is a joint mission of ESA and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
It was launched on 19 May 2026 and reached its target orbit on 20 June 2026.
Science operations were approved on 23 September 2026 after commissioning.
The spacecraft carries four instruments: a soft X-ray imager, an ultraviolet aurora imager, a magnetometer and a light ion analyser.
Smile studies how Earth's magnetic shield responds to the solar wind, including geomagnetic storms and auroras that can disturb power grids and satellites.
In plain words
Smile Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer — A joint ESA and Chinese Academy of Sciences spacecraft studying Earth's response to the solar wind.
Magnetosphere Region of space controlled by Earth's magnetic field — It deflects most of the charged particles streaming from the Sun.
Solar wind Stream of charged particles flowing out from the Sun — Its gusts cause geomagnetic storms and auroras at Earth.