Success

Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE)

Vega-CAvio S.p.AAriane Launch Area 1 (ELV)

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 · 03:52 AM UTCAdd to Calendar

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Flight 12 replay

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Vehicle

Vega-C

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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...

Height34.8 m

LEO Payload3,300 kg

Launches25

Successes1

Provider

Avio S.p.A

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ITA • Founded 1908

Avio 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...

Mission Brief

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.

PayloadSolar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE)

OrbitElliptical Orbit

CustomerAvio S.p.A

Stages4

PadAriane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Mission Timeline

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Launch Site

Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

5.236°N, 52.775°W

Delay History

May 19May 19Success → Success

Schedule updated

May 19May 19Go → Success

Schedule updated

May 19May 19Go → Go

Schedule updated

Apr 30May 19TBD → Go

Schedule updated

Upcoming Launches

Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE)

Vega-C

Avio S.p.A

Mission Brief

Mission Timeline

Launch Site

Delay History

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