Call for interest: media programme for launch of Smile mission at Europe’s Spaceport

The Smile mission will be launched on board a Vega-C rocket from Europe's spaceport in French Guiana, within the launch window 8 April - 7 May 2026.

Smile is a scientific collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), designed to look at Earth's magnetic field in X-rays and uncover where and how the solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetic shield.

Smile will also observe auroras globally in ultraviolet light to understand how Earth responds to the solar wind, being able to watch the northern lights continuously for 45 hours at a time (a first for a space mission!).

Moreover, Smile will improve our understanding of solar storms and the resulting disturbances on Earth, known as geomagnetic storms. A better understanding of the science of space weather is essential for ultimately protecting both space-based technology and the lives of any humans in orbit around the Earth.

Over 250 European and Chinese scientists make up the Smile scientific consortium, with important contributions funded by all ESA Member States.

ESA, Avio and CAS are planning media activities for this launch which will also include online pre-launch media briefings open to all journalists.

This call for interest only relates to activities taking place on site at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. This will ensure that media accreditation is completed in time and to establish a reserve list in the event of cancellations. More details on the media programme in French Guiana will be shared in due course.

Registration

Journalists wishing to participate in the media programme at Europe's Spaceport are asked to submit their application via ESA's media accreditation page as soon as possible and no later than 17:00 CET on Thursday 6 March 2026.

Please note:

• ESA will recommend flight dates and accommodation options to confirmed participants to facilitate the trip;

• because the number of places is limited, ESA cannot guarantee all interested media will be able to join this visit. For this reason, the Agency will also establish a reserve list for the event in case of cancellations.

• accreditation formalities to access Europe's Spaceport will have to be completed immediately after confirmation of participation;

• yellow fever vaccination is compulsory to enter French Guiana (this will be checked at the airport).

In case of questions please contact us at [email protected].

More information:

Check the launch kit for the Smile mission

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About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe's gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 23 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia are Associate Members.

ESA has established formal cooperation with four Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int