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

Mission Status

Current date is a placeholder or rough estimation based on unreliable or interpreted sources.

Mission Updates

Oct 24, 04:27 PM Cosmic_Penguin

NET April 8.

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Feb 7, 10:10 PM Nosu

Targeting early 2026

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May 1, 03:42 AM Cosmic_Penguin

NET late 2025.

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Feb 23, 05:01 PM Nosu

Adding launch NET April 2025

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Mission Details

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
Launch Window 12:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Rocket Configuration

Name Vega-C
Manufacturer Avio S.p.A
Height 34.8 m
Diameter 3 m
Maiden Flight 2022-07-13
Success Rate 5/6 (83%)

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.