Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE)
Vega-C, Avio S.p.A
Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Launch time
T-0
Tue 19 May, 05:52:10 CEST
03:52:10 UTC
The rocket put its payload into the planned orbit.
How sure is this date?
The source gives second precision. Launch plans can change.
Launch record updated by LL2
Feed checkedMission
Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) on Vega-C. Tue 19 May 2026, 03:52:10 UTC. Reported outcome: Success. Launch site: Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV). Source: Launch Library 2.
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.
- Mission type
- Astrophysics
- Orbit
- Elliptical Orbit
Mission patches
- VV29 Patch
- Smile Patch
Patch artwork is not shown because its image licence is unconfirmed.
Launch timeline
Times are relative to liftoff.
- T-0
Liftoff
First upwards movement of the rocket
- T+2 min 25 s
Stage 2 Separation
Separation of the second stage from the first
- T+2 min 26 s
SES
Start of the second engine
- T+4 min 30 s
Stage 3 Separation
Separation of the third stage from the second
- T+4 min 37 s
Stage 3 Ignition
Third stage engine ignites.
- T+4 min 42 s
Fairing Separation
Separation of the payload fairing
- T+7 min 14 s
Kick Stage Separation
Separation of the kick stage from the previous stage
- T+20 min 23 s
Kick Stage Ignition
Start of the kick stage engine
- T+24 min 32 s
Kick Stage Cut-off
Cut-off of the kick stage engine
- T+52 min 57 s
Kick Stage Burn
The kick stage conducts an engine burn in orbit.
- T+54 min 52 s
Kick Stage Cut-off
Cut-off of the kick stage engine
- T+56 min 24 s
Payload Separation
Final deployment of the payload from the rocket
- T+2 h 37 s
Kick Stage Ignition
Start of the kick stage engine
- T+2 h 1 min 44 s
Kick Stage Cut-off
Cut-off of the kick stage engine
Slip history
Changes recorded by Space Right Now
No changes since we started tracking on .
Source updates from Launch Library 2 (12)
Announcements supplied by LL2 may predate our tracking. They are separate from changes observed by Space Right Now.
- LL2 update
Launch success with spacecraft acquisition & solar panels deployment.
Read the source update - LL2 update
Spacecraft separation.
Read the source update - LL2 update
Liftoff.
Read the source update - LL2 update
Tweaked T-0.
Read the source update - LL2 update
Official Webcast by European Space Agency, ESA has started
Read the source update - LL2 update
Rescheduled for May 19.
Read the source update - LL2 update
Launch delayed due to a technical issue on a subsystem component production line. New launch date TBA.
Read the source update - LL2 update
Targeting April 9 at 06:29 UTC
Read the source update - LL2 update
NET April 8.
Read the source update - LL2 update
Targeting early 2026
Read the source update - LL2 update
NET late 2025.
Read the source update - LL2 update
Adding launch NET April 2025
Read the source update
Launch pad
Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV)
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana (GF)
Coordinates: 5.236, -52.775
View launch pad on a map