Smile

Smile mission

Smile will use four science instruments to study how Earth responds to the solar wind from the Sun. This will improve our understanding of solar storms, geomagnetic storms and the science of space weather.

ALTER has contributed by supplying electronic components, carrying out associated engineering work and conducting laboratory testing campaigns. This work is essential to ensure that the onboard systems can withstand the harsh conditions of space, such as radiation and extreme temperatures, to which the mission will be subjected throughout its operational life. Thanks to these capabilities, ALTER helps ensure the integrity, performance, and durability of critical equipment on a scientific mission as demanding as Smile.

ESA’s Smile satellite launched aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The rocket lifted off on 19 May 2026.