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ESA and China’s SMILE mission begins science operations after commissioning

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The joint European Space Agency–Chinese Academy of Sciences Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer has entered scientific operations following its May launch and a multi-month commissioning period. ESA and CAS released the mission’s first images, marking the transition from spacecraft checkout to planned research.

Discovered 2026-10-04T15:54:59.754835-07:00 | 2026-10-04T15:54:59.754835-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • SMILE has moved from commissioning into scientific operations, establishing a new phase for a jointly developed ESA–Chinese Academy of Sciences space mission.
  • The release of the first images provides an initial public milestone for the mission and confirms progress after its May launch and multi-month checkout.

Reported By

NASA Spaceflight
Sources Tracked
1
First Seen
2026-10-04T15:54:59.754835-07:00
Latest Update
2026-10-04T15:54:59.754835-07:00
Coverage
Space

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