The Vega C will launch the SMILE (Solar-wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) mission for the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
SMILE is designed to study the Earth’s magnetic environment, specifically its interaction with solar wind, and will contribute significantly to our understanding of space weather and solar storms. In order for observations to start during the peak of the 11-year cycle of solar activity, the optimum launch window for the SMILE mission is around the end of 2025.
Arianespace signed a launch contract with the ESA for the deployment of the SMILE mission, a joint ESA-Science and CAS initiative that aims to better understand our solar system. SMILE will observe Earth’s magnetic environment, the magnetosphere, on a global scale, and its interaction with the solar wind. To maximize its scientific contribution, SMILE requires a launch close to the peak of solar activity during the Sun’s 11-year cycle.
SMILE was selected from a pool of 13 potential missions that were proposed to the ESA and the CAS in response to a joint call for mission concepts in 2015. After the joint ESA-China National Space Administration Double Star mission in the 1990s, SMILE marks the first time that ESA and China have selected, designed, implemented, launched, and operated a space mission together.
ESA is responsible for the payload module, the launch vehicle, one of the scientific instruments and part of the science operations. The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) is responsible for three scientific instruments, the platform, and the mission and science operations.
The agreement will see the SMILE spacecraft launched by the European light-lift Vega C from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, currently expected for late 2025. The exact launch period will be defined by taking into account SMILE’s scientific objectives as well as the evolution of the Vega C manifest.
Vega C is an ESA program carried out in cooperation between public institutions and private industry across 12 European partner states. Avio S.p.A (Colleferro, Italy) is the prime contractor responsible for the development and production of the launch system and delivering a “ready-to-fly” vehicle to Arianespace at Europe’s Spaceport. Arianespace is the operator and the exclusive launch service provider of Vega C up to the moment this mandate is transferred to Avio under the implementation of the Resolution adopted by ESA in Seville on 6 and 7 November 2023.
Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace, said, “This signature marks over four years of collaborative efforts between Arianespace and ESA Science teams to develop the SMILE mission with a Vega C launcher. While many spacecraft already observe the Sun and its effect on the Earth’s environment, this is the first time a mission will be able to view the full Sun-Earth connection. We are thrilled to contribute to this new step in better understanding space weather, in a context where we need to protect our space-based technology and ensure human safety.”
“Today marks a major milestone for our innovative SMILE mission and signals the determination of all our teams and partners to deliver a successful mission on schedule for maximum scientific benefit,” said Prof. Carole Mundell, ESA Director of Science.
“We are delighted to be launching SMILE on such a versatile launch vehicle. Vega C has been selected as it perfectly matches the needs of the mission, such as required mass capability and injection orbit,” said David Agnolon, ESA SMILE Project Manager.