Smile mission approved to begin science operations
On 23 September, the European-Chinese Smile mission was declared ready to begin science operations after launching on 19 May and reaching its target orbit on 20 June. During the commissioning period, teams deployed mechanisms, tested the spacecraft's four science instruments (soft X-ray imager, ultraviolet aurora imager, magnetometer, and light ion analyser), and validated communications. The ultraviolet aurora imager captured its first footage on 24 July 2026, recording auroras for 45 hours at a time, while the soft X-ray imager was switched on and took test images; the X-ray imager currently detects unwanted stray light when pointed at Earth, which the teams are working to reduce through software adjustments and which is expected to reach a minimum in mid-October.
