Launch Detail
Pulling launch timing, vehicle context, weather signals, and mission evidence.
Launch detail
Avio S.p.A • Vega-C • Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV) (NA)
Avio S.p.A • Vega-C • LA-1
Joint mission between the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences to investigate the interaction between Earth’s protective shield – the magnetosphere – and the supersonic solar wind.
Planned targets around liftoff.
Stream links and embedded coverage.
Open the launch pad in Google Maps satellite mode using the pad coordinates.
Joint mission between the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences to investigate the interaction between Earth’s protective shield – the magnetosphere – and the supersonic solar wind.
Vega-C is a single-body rocket nearly 35 m high with that weighs 210 tonnes on the launch pad. As with Vega, its main elements are three solid-propellant stages, an upper stage powered by a reignitable liquid-propellant engine and a payload fairing. Vega-C's P120C first stage replaces Vega’s smaller P80 to provide a significant increase in thrust at liftoff. It is also used as boosters (2 or 4) for the Ariane 6 rocket.
Avio S.p.A. is an Italian company operating in the aerospace sector with its head office in Colleferro near Rome, Italy. Founded in 1908, it is present in Italy and abroad with different commercial offices and 10 production sites.
Premium keeps the launch-by-launch change log visible so you can review slips, window edits, and status changes without waiting for an error-driven upgrade prompt.
Provider, rocket, pad, and booster history tied to this launch.
Linked via Spaceflight News API (SNAPI).
ArticleThe Italian launch services provider Avio has postponed the launch of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) SMILE mission aboard a Vega C rocket after an issue w...
ArticleESA will be broadcasting live as the European-Chinese Smile mission launches at 07:29 BST/08:29 CEST (03:29 local time) on 9 April 2026.
ArticleThe European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences are joining hands to uncover how Earth defends itself against dangerous particles and radiation...
ArticleFrom the ESA Blogs.
ArticleFrom the ESA Blogs.
ArticleWhat really happens when the Sun’s charged particles slam into Earth’s magnetic shield?
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