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News: China and European space agencies are launching the joint SMILE mission on May 19 to study Earth’s magnetic shield against solar activity.
About Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) Mission
- SMILE Mission stands for ‘Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer Mission‘.
- Implemented by: The joint mission is implemented by European Space Agency (ESA) Science Programme and the Chinese National Space Science Centre (NSSC) under Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
- Aim: This mission is designed to study the interaction between solar wind and earth’s magnetosphere.
- The mission aims to capture the first X-ray images of earth’s magnetic shield as it deflects harmful charged particles and energies coming from the Sun.
- Launched through: The mission will be launched on a European Vega-C rocket.
- Position: SMILE will be positioned about 1.21 lakh km above Earth’s north pole.
- Key Aspects:
- Satellite weighs: The satellite weighs about 2,600 kg.
- Mission Life: It has a mission life of about three years.
- Payload Instruments:
- Total payload : The mission is carrying four payload.
- Payload weight: Payload weight is 70 kg in total.
- Developing Agencies: ESA developed the Soft X-ray Imager (SXI), while the Chinese team developed other three.
- Soft X-ray Imager (SXI): ESA developed this instrument to capture X-ray images of the magnetosphere.
- Magnetometer: This payload will study magnetic field changes near Earth.
- Light Ion Analyser (LIA): This instrument will analyse charged particles near Earth.
- Ultraviolet aurora Imager (UVI): This payload will observe auroras in ultraviolet wavelengths.
- in situ observations: All these payloads will use remote sensing and make in situ (on site) observations along the near-Earth regions.
- Space Weather Forecasting: The mission is expected to improve forecasts of solar storms and space weather disturbances.
- Protection of Infrastructure: Better forecasts can help protect satellites, GPS, communication systems, airline operations, electricity grids, and astronaut safety.
- Previous Similar Mission: Earlier ESA missions such as Swarm and Cluster also studied Earth’s magnetosphere and related space processes.
