The joint European-Chinese Smile (https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Smile) mission will launch this spring from Europe’s Spaceport (https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Europe_s_Spaceport/Europe_s_Spaceport2) in French Guiana, on a Vega-C (https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Vega/Vega-C) rocket.
Following liftoff, the first, second and third stages of the rocket will be released one by one, before Smile finally separates from the fourth (upper) stage 57 minutes after launch.
Around 5–10 minutes later, Smile will deploy its solar arrays, stretching them out ready to collect the sunlight necessary to power its onboard systems and science instruments.
Using X-ray (https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Smile/Smile_s_X-ray_vision) and ultraviolet (https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Smile/Smile_s_ultraviolet_vision) cameras, as well as particle and magnetic field detectors, Smile will give humankind its first complete look at how Earth reacts to streams and bursts of particles and radiation from the Sun.
By improving our understanding of the solar wind (https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/The_solar_wind), solar storms and space weather, Smile will fill a stark gap in our understanding of the Solar System and help keep our technology and astronauts safe in the future.
Watch Smile’s orbit transfer and magnetometer boom deployment (artist impression) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5g-DbYyEdg
Smile (the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) is a joint mission between the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Credit: ESA Acknowledgements: ATG Europe
We are Europe’s gateway to space. Our mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. Check out https://www.esa.int/ to get up to speed on everything space related.
Copyright information about our videos is available here: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Terms_and_conditions_of_use_of_images_and_videos_available_on_the_esa_website
#sun #smile