Science begins for Smile

On 23 September, the European-Chinese Smile mission was declared ready to commence its groundbreaking study of how Earth reacts to the charged particles emitted by the Sun. This milestone followed a rigorous commissioning period since the spacecraft's launch on 19 May and its arrival at its designated orbit for scientific observations on 20 June.

To ensure flawless performance in space, European and Chinese teams worked tirelessly, deploying mechanisms, activating units, verifying communications, and resolving any arising issues. Professor Carole Mundell, ESA Director of Science, highlighted the mission as a testament to the trust, dedication, and resilience of the teams involved.

Smile is now authorized to initiate its scientific pursuits, marking a significant achievement in understanding solar and geomagnetic storms, as well as their impact on space weather. The mission's four science instruments - the soft X-ray imager (SXI), ultraviolet aurora imager (UVI), magnetometer (MAG), and light ion analyser (LIA) - will collectively provide crucial data on Earth's magnetic field, auroras, and the effects of solar activity.

One of the first visuals to emerge from the mission is a UVI image of the northern lights captured on 24 July 2026, marking the first ultraviolet light capture of this phenomenon since 2008. Additionally, the SXI instrument has successfully commenced operations, delivering initial images that will further enhance our understanding of the magnetopause and the northern polar cusp - areas where the solar wind collides with Earth's magnetic field.

Smile's journey from a collection of components to a fully operational science mission took place over just over two years. A documentary film, 'Let's Smile', captures this transformative period, showcasing the collaborative efforts of scientists and engineers from across Europe in making this ambitious mission a reality.