Beijing has begun testing the SMILE satellite (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer), a joint mission between the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the European Space Agency (ESA). The satellite is designed to study the interaction between solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere using X-ray and UV imaging.
The tests, conducted at a facility in Beijing, focus on the satellite's integration and environmental readiness. SMILE is expected to launch in 2025, according to ESA's official timeline.
The mission aims to provide new insights into space weather phenomena, which can affect satellite communications and power grids on Earth. SMILE will observe the magnetosphere's response to solar wind in real time.
