Before it can study how Earth responds to the Sun's streams of particles and radiation, the Smile spacecraft had to complete an extraordinary journey across Earth. That journey ended at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, where the probe underwent final launch preparations.
Fueling, encapsulation, and a ride on Vega-C
Workers at the spaceport fueled Smile and sealed it inside its protective fairing. The spacecraft then met the rest of the Vega-C rocket that will carry it to orbit. That rocket, designated Vega-C flight VV29, stands 35 meters tall and weighs 210 tonnes on the launch pad. It will use three solid-propellant stages to lift Smile into space, followed by a fourth liquid-propellant stage for a precise drop-off around Earth.
A joint mission to watch Earth's magnetic shield
Smile stands for Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer. It is a joint European-Chinese mission designed to study how the solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetic environment. The spacecraft will fly a unique highly elliptical orbit. Over the next three years, it will pass high above the North Pole every two days. From that vantage point, Smile will collect X-ray and ultraviolet images of Earth's magnetic shield and the northern lights.
Why local people cared
For the people of French Guiana, the launch of Smile on Vega-C flight VV29 represented another step in the region's role as a gateway to space. Europe's Spaceport is a major economic and scientific hub, and each mission brings attention and activity to the area. The sight of a 35-meter rocket carrying a probe that will study the Sun's influence on Earth is a source of local pride.
The Smile mission is now set to begin its three-year study of the solar wind and Earth's magnetic shield. Its images from high above the North Pole will help scientists understand how our planet responds to the Sun's constant stream of particles and bursts of radiation.
