A joint European–Chinese spacecraft has blasted off into orbit on a pioneering mission to uncover what happens when violent solar storms crash into Earth’s magnetic shield, in a project that could improve forecasts of dangerous space weather and deepen understanding of the auroras that light up polar skies.
The spacecraft, known as SMILE, lifted off aboard a Vega-C rocket at 03h52 GMT on Tuesday from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on the northeastern coast of South America. Around 55 minutes later, the spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket at an altitude of 700 kilometres and began its long journey into a highly elliptical orbit far above Earth.
Scientists hope the mission will provide an unprecedented view of the interaction between the Sun and Earth’s magnetic environment, helping researchers better understand how bursts of charged particles from the Sun can disrupt satellites, communications networks and power systems on Earth.
SMILE – short for Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer – is a joint mission between the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Roughly the size of a van, the spacecraft is set to make the first-ever X-ray observations of Earth’s magnetic field.
Its unusual orbit will allow the spacecraft to spend long periods studying the northern lights from afar. When passing over the South Pole, SMILE will descend to around 5,000 kilometres above Earth, enabling it to send data to the Bernardo O’Higgins research station in Antarctica.
At the other end of its orbit, the spacecraft will travel as far as 121,000 kilometres above Earth over the North Pole. According to the European Space Agency, this position will allow SMILE to observe the auroras continuously for up to 45 hours at a time – a first for any mission.
Tracking the Sun’s explosive power
Solar wind is a constant stream of charged particles emitted by the Sun, but at times the flow intensifies dramatically due to enormous eruptions of plasma known as coronal mass ejections. Travelling at speeds of around two million kilometres an hour, these blasts can take between one and two days to reach Earth.
When they arrive, Earth’s magnetic field acts as a protective barrier, deflecting most of the incoming particles. Yet during particularly strong solar storms, some charged particles can break through into the upper atmosphere.
Such events can have serious consequences. Powerful geomagnetic storms are capable of damaging satellites, disrupting communication systems and threatening astronauts aboard space stations. In extreme cases, they can even interfere with electricity networks on the ground.
The most severe geomagnetic storm ever recorded occurred in 1859 during the so-called Carrington Event. Bright auroras were reportedly visible as far south as Panama, while telegraph systems around the world malfunctioned and some operators received electric shocks.
Although such storms are rare, modern society is now far more dependent on technologies vulnerable to solar activity, making space weather research increasingly important.
A mission designed to improve forecasting
The SMILE mission aims to shed new light on these processes by detecting X-rays produced when charged particles from the Sun collide with neutral particles in Earth’s upper atmosphere. By observing these interactions directly, scientists hope to gain a clearer picture of how energy from the Sun enters and moves through Earth’s magnetic system.
Researchers believe the data gathered by SMILE could ultimately improve forecasting systems, allowing governments and industries more time to prepare for severe solar storms.
The spacecraft is expected to begin collecting scientific data just one hour after reaching orbit. The mission is planned to last for three years, though officials say it could continue longer if operations proceed smoothly.
Tuesday’s launch came after an earlier attempt scheduled for 9 April was postponed because of a technical issue.
(With newswires)
