SMILE satellite begins scientific operations to study space weather

The SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) mission, a joint collaboration between the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has officially entered its scientific operation phase. Following a successful commissioning period after its May 2026 launch, the satellite is now positioned in a highly elliptical orbit to study how solar wind interacts with Earth’s magnetic field.

The mission has released its first set of scientific data and imagery. The Ultraviolet Aurora Imager (UVI) captured a record-breaking 45-hour continuous observation of the northern lights, providing a full ultraviolet view of the auroral ring around the North Pole. Additionally, the Soft X-ray Imager (SXI) provided images of a supernova remnant in the Large Magellanic Cloud, marking the first time a spacecraft has performed such detailed, long-term X-ray observations of Earth’s magnetic field.

By monitoring these interactions, the SMILE mission aims to improve space weather forecasting, which is critical for protecting electronic infrastructure, satellites, and power grids from geomagnetic storms.