According to the National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Solar wind-Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) satellite, jointly developed by China and Europe, has successfully passed the in-orbit test summary review and transitioned into the science operations phase.
The SMILE satellite was successfully launched on May 19, 2026, from the Kourou Space Center in French Guiana. After approximately one month of orbital maneuvering, the satellite reached its science observation orbit on June 20, with a perigee of 5,120 kilometers and an apogee of 120,900 kilometers.
After arriving in the designated orbit, the payload module and scientific instruments were successively powered on. The equipment operated normally, and the scientific payloads completed in-orbit debugging and in-orbit calibration, obtaining valid scientific data as expected.
The in-orbit test results indicate that all mission units of the satellite are operating normally, and all functional performance has been verified. The Chinese Academy of Sciences team has independently completed all operations of the satellite payload module, laying a solid foundation for the first-ever holistic imaging observation of the interaction between the solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere, and for dynamically revealing the solar wind-magnetosphere coupling process. All four scientific payloads are in good working condition.
Both China and Europe have highly praised this collaboration and expressed strong affirmation of the satellite's in-orbit test results and cooperative achievements.
The first batch of in-orbit observation images and detection data includes the Ultraviolet Imager (UVI) capturing the world's first uninterrupted panoramic and fine-structure images of Northern Hemisphere auroras, the Soft X-ray Imager (SXI) photographing the supernova remnant in the Large Magellanic Cloud, and the Magnetometer (MAG) and Low-energy Ion Analyzer (LIA) obtaining the world's first high-resolution in-orbit detection data at extremely high Earth orbits.
The UVI is designed to monitor the temporal and spatial variations of auroras, identify and track auroral structures, and characterize energy deposition in the solar wind-magnetosphere coupling system. It was powered on on July 16, 2026. Figure 1 shows the Northern Hemisphere aurora image. Aurora images serve as a visualization window for understanding the transport of matter and energy in the magnetosphere. Through the dynamic changes of different types of structures in auroral images, the dynamic behavior of magnetospheric plasma can be understood. The UVI is currently the imager with the longest continuous observation time and the highest temporal resolution for spaceborne auroral panoramic monitoring internationally, with a maximum continuous observation time of 44 hours and a maximum temporal resolution of 5 seconds. The UVI will conduct long-term, high spatiotemporal resolution auroral panoramic monitoring on the SMILE satellite's unique large elliptical orbit, visualizing the entire process of solar wind-magnetosphere coupling.
The SXI was powered on on June 27, 2026. The equipment is working normally and has completed payload calibration. With the SXI, the SMILE satellite becomes the first spacecraft to conduct detailed and long-duration X-ray observations of Earth's magnetic field. Figure 2 shows the remnant of a giant star explosion in the Large Magellanic Cloud approximately 160,000 light-years away. These million-degree "supernova remnants" emit bright X-ray light, making the Large Magellanic Cloud and N132D excellent observation targets for the SMILE satellite.
After entering the science operations phase, the SMILE satellite will actually observe the soft X-rays released when the edge of Earth's magnetosphere is struck by charged particles from the Sun. Officials stated that the successful operation of the SMILE satellite marks a new stage in China-Europe space science cooperation and will make important contributions to humanity's understanding of solar wind-magnetosphere interactions and to enhancing space weather forecasting capabilities.