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Vega C | Flight VV29 | SMILE | Avio
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Avio S.p.A • Vega-C • Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV) (NA)
Avio S.p.A • Vega-C • LA-1
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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.
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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.
Linked via Spaceflight News API (SNAPI).
ArticleESA and China recently launched the joint SMILE magnetosphere mission after a decade of cooperation, but despite similar goals, another collaboration appears...
ArticleSmile successfully launched from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on 19 May 2026.
745e08e5564e193907d6e1b3896ffcec858e9ba945b78a4c2ffe44a79ecf49edProvider, rocket, pad, and booster history tied to this launch.
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VV29 Patch
Smile Patch0-100 score for how likely the jellyfish effect is to be visible from your location.
A visible jellyfish-style plume is not expected from this viewpoint under the current model.
0 = very unlikely to see it. 100 = best setup.
No visible jellyfish plume is currently expected from this location.
Read the jellyfish effect and JEP FAQ
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