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Vega-C | Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE)
Vega-C | Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) launched on Tue, May 19, 2026, 03:52 AM UTC — a Avio S.p.A mission.
Launch SuccessfulAvio S.p.A
Lifted offNET May 2026
NET Tue, May 19, 2026, 03:52 AM UTC
Live coverage
Watch the webcasts
4 streams available — switch between the provider’s feed, X and others.
Mission profile
The flight at a glance
Vega-CVehicle
Avio S.p.AProvider
Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV)Pad
Guiana Space Centre, French GuianaLocation
AstrophysicsMission type
Elliptical OrbitOrbit
Flight sequence
Mission timeline
Key events from liftoff — ignition, staging, separation and deployment — with their times relative to T0.
- LiftoffT+ 00:00:00
- Stage 2 SeparationT+ 00:02:25
- SEST+ 00:02:26
- Stage 3 SeparationT+ 00:04:30
- Stage 3 IgnitionT+ 00:04:37
- Fairing SeparationT+ 00:04:42
- Kick Stage SeparationT+ 00:07:14
- Kick Stage IgnitionT+ 00:20:23
- Kick Stage Cut-offT+ 00:24:32
- Kick Stage BurnT+ 00:52:57
- Kick Stage Cut-offT+ 00:54:52
- Payload SeparationT+ 00:56:24
- Kick Stage IgnitionT+ 02:00:37
- Kick Stage Cut-offT+ 02:01:44
Flight simulation
Ascent to orbit
A representative gravity-turn climb for Vega-C to Elliptical Orbit. Illustrative model — not this mission’s live telemetry.
Mission timeT+0:00
Altitude0.0 km
Velocity0.00 km/s
PhaseLiftoff
T+0:00 / 8:00
SimulatedRepresentative Vega-C ascent profile — illustrative model, not this mission’s live telemetry.
The mission
Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE)
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.
Around this launch
Related news
No news linked to this launch yet
As coverage publishes, deduplicated articles about this mission will appear here.
Good to know
Frequently asked
What time does Vega-C | Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) launch?
Vega-C | Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) is scheduled to lift off Tue, May 19, 2026, 03:52 AM UTC.
Where can I watch Vega-C | Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE)?
Watch the official live webcast embedded on this page — it goes live shortly before liftoff.
Who is launching Vega-C | Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE)?
Vega-C | Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) is an Avio S.p.A mission flying on a Vega-C.
Where does Vega-C | Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) launch from?
It lifts off from Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana.