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

Avio S.p.ALaunch SuccessfulAstrophysics

Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer

Name: Vega-C | Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE)
Start: 2026-05-19T03:52:10Z
Location: Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Vega-C · SMILE

Launched Tue, May 19 · 3:52:10 AM UTC2026-05-19 03:52:10 UTCAriane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Reached orbit

Follow Avio S.p.A in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Elliptical Orbit

The second stage released the payload at T+56:24.

Worldwide

114th

orbital launch attempt in 2026

Avio S.p.A

1st

launch this year

Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV)

1st

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

168 d 10 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: ESA's Smile mission launch (Official broadcast)

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 3:52 AM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Ascent14

T+0:003:52 AMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+2:253:54 AMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:263:54 AMStart of the second engine
T+4:303:56 AMSeparation of the third stage from the second
T+4:373:56 AMThird stage engine ignites.
T+4:423:56 AMSeparation of the payload fairing
T+7:143:59 AMSeparation of the kick stage from the previous stage
T+20:234:12 AMStart of the kick stage engine
T+24:324:16 AMCut-off of the kick stage engine
T+52:574:45 AMThe kick stage conducts an engine burn in orbit.
T+54:524:47 AMCut-off of the kick stage engine
T+56:244:48 AMFinal deployment of the payload from the rocket
T+2:00:375:52 AMStart of the kick stage engine
T+2:01:445:53 AMCut-off of the kick stage engine

Mission

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.

Launch Provider

Avio S.p.A

Commercial · Italy · Founded 1908 · CEO Giulio Ranzo

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 10 production sites.

Launches

Successful

100%

Upcoming

scheduled

FliesVega

All Avio S.p.A launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

May 19 · 4:52 AM
Launch success with spacecraft acquisition & solar panels deployment.
Cosmic_Penguin
May 19 · 4:49 AM
Spacecraft separation.
Cosmic_Penguin
May 19 · 3:52 AM
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin
May 19 · 3:33 AM
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
May 19 · 3:29 AM
Official Webcast by European Space Agency, ESA has started
Launch Library 2

Show earlier updates

Apr 23 · 5:52 PM
Rescheduled for May 19.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 6 · 8:36 AM
Launch delayed due to a technical issue on a subsystem component production line. New launch date TBA.
Nosu
Mar 20 · 10:04 AM
Targeting April 9 at 06:29 UTC
Nosu
Oct 24 · 4:27 PM
NET April 8.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 7 · 10:10 PM
Targeting early 2026
Nosu
May 1 · 3:42 AM
NET late 2025.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 23 · 5:01 PM
Adding launch NET April 2025
Nosu

Vega-C

Vehicle history

Height

34.8m

Diameter

To low Earth orbit

3,300kg

Liftoff thrust

2,974kN

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

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Avio S.p.ALaunch SuccessfulAstrophysics

Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer

Vega-C · SMILE

Launched Tue, May 19 · 3:52:10 AM UTC2026-05-19 03:52:10 UTCAriane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Reached orbit

Follow Avio S.p.A in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Elliptical Orbit

The second stage released the payload at T+56:24.

Worldwide

114th

orbital launch attempt in 2026

Avio S.p.A

1st

launch this year

Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV)

1st

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

168 d 10 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: ESA's Smile mission launch (Official broadcast)

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 3:52 AM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Ascent14

T+0:003:52 AMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+2:253:54 AMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:263:54 AMStart of the second engine
T+4:303:56 AMSeparation of the third stage from the second
T+4:373:56 AMThird stage engine ignites.
T+4:423:56 AMSeparation of the payload fairing
T+7:143:59 AMSeparation of the kick stage from the previous stage
T+20:234:12 AMStart of the kick stage engine
T+24:324:16 AMCut-off of the kick stage engine
T+52:574:45 AMThe kick stage conducts an engine burn in orbit.
T+54:524:47 AMCut-off of the kick stage engine
T+56:244:48 AMFinal deployment of the payload from the rocket
T+2:00:375:52 AMStart of the kick stage engine
T+2:01:445:53 AMCut-off of the kick stage engine

Mission

Launch Provider

Avio S.p.A

Commercial · Italy · Founded 1908 · CEO Giulio Ranzo

Launches

Successful

100%

Upcoming

scheduled

FliesVega

All Avio S.p.A launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

May 19 · 4:52 AM
Launch success with spacecraft acquisition & solar panels deployment.
Cosmic_Penguin
May 19 · 4:49 AM
Spacecraft separation.
Cosmic_Penguin
May 19 · 3:52 AM
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin
May 19 · 3:33 AM
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
May 19 · 3:29 AM
Official Webcast by European Space Agency, ESA has started
Launch Library 2

Show earlier updates

Apr 23 · 5:52 PM
Rescheduled for May 19.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 6 · 8:36 AM
Launch delayed due to a technical issue on a subsystem component production line. New launch date TBA.
Nosu
Mar 20 · 10:04 AM
Targeting April 9 at 06:29 UTC
Nosu
Oct 24 · 4:27 PM
NET April 8.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 7 · 10:10 PM
Targeting early 2026
Nosu
May 1 · 3:42 AM
NET late 2025.
Cosmic_Penguin
Feb 23 · 5:01 PM
Adding launch NET April 2025
Nosu

Vega-C

Vehicle history

Height

34.8m

Diameter

To low Earth orbit

3,300kg

Liftoff thrust

2,974kN

Next From Guiana Space Centre

Guiana Space Centre schedule

Nov23Mon

Amazon Leo (LE-04)Arianespace · Ariane 64 Block 2 · Ariane Launch Area 4, Guiana Space Centre, French GuianaLow Earth OrbitTo be determinedTime TBD Dec—NET

Metop-SG B1Arianespace · Ariane 62 · Ariane Launch Area 4, Guiana Space Centre, French GuianaSun-Synchronous OrbitTo be determinedNET December

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

Notifications before every launch you follow, live countdowns on your home screen and watch, and webcasts as they start.

See what's in the app

Scan to open on your phone

Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Ascent14

Mission

Avio S.p.A

Updates

Vega-C

Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Ascent14

Mission

Avio S.p.A

Updates

Vega-C

Next From Guiana Space Centre

Next From Guiana Space Centre

Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Ascent14

Mission

Avio S.p.A

Updates

Vega-C

Never Miss a Launch.

Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Ascent14

Mission

Avio S.p.A

Updates

Vega-C

Next From Guiana Space Centre

Never Miss a Launch.

Next From Guiana Space Centre