SMILE Spacecraft Launched for Solar Storm Study

Kathmandu. The 'SMILE' spacecraft, jointly developed by the European Union (EU) and China to study the impact of solar storms on Earth, was successfully launched into space on Tuesday. This ambitious scientific mission has been launched to understand what happens when intense winds and plasma from the Sun collide with Earth's magnetic field.< p>

According to experts, powerful solar storms can severely affect Earth's surrounding satellite systems, communication networks, space stations, and astronauts. Such events also create the bright auroras, known as 'Northern Lights' and 'Southern Lights', in the northern and southern polar regions.< p>

To gather more information about this mysterious space weather, the 'SMILE' spacecraft has been tasked with observing Earth's magnetic field for the first time using X-rays. This mission, named 'SMILE' or 'Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer', is a joint project between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.< p>

The spacecraft was launched on Tuesday at 03:52 GMT from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on the northeastern coast of South America, aboard a Vega-C rocket.< p>

About 55 minutes after liftoff, the spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket. It then entered a highly elliptical orbit around Earth and proceeded on its planned journey.< p>

According to the mission, 'SMILE' will be approximately five thousand kilometers above Earth's surface when it reaches the South Pole. During this time, it will send data to the Bernardo O'Higgins Research Station in Antarctica.< p>

Similarly, when it reaches the North Pole, it will be about 121,000 kilometers above Earth. According to ESA, this type of orbit will enable continuous observation of the northern polar aurora for 45 hours for the first time.< p>

Solar wind is a continuous stream of energy and charged particles emanating from the Sun. Sometimes, powerful explosions on the Sun, called 'coronal mass ejections', transform this wind into massive solar storms.< p>

These explosions spread into space at speeds of about 2 million kilometers per hour and can take one to two days to reach Earth. When such solar storms reach Earth, Earth's magnetic field acts like a shield, blocking most particles from the Sun. However, during extremely powerful storms, some particles can penetrate Earth's atmosphere.< p>

According to scientists, such events can cause serious disruptions to power transmission systems, communication networks, and satellite services. Hundreds of satellites orbiting Earth and astronauts on space stations are also at risk from solar storms.< p>

The most powerful geomagnetic storm in history was recorded in 1859. At that time, auroras were seen as far south as Panama, and telegraph operators worldwide felt electric shocks.< p>

Due to these potential risks, the scientific community wants to study space weather more deeply, with the belief that it will help predict major solar explosions in the future and protect Earth from potential damage.< p>

As part of this mission, 'SMILE' will detect X-ray signals emitted from the interaction between charged particles carrying energy from the Sun and neutral particles in Earth's upper atmosphere. Scientists will study how Earth's magnetic field reacts to solar storms through this data.< p>

The spacecraft is expected to start collecting data about an hour after entering orbit. Initially, this mission is planned for three years, but if all systems operate successfully, the duration can be extended.< p>

This launch was previously scheduled for April 9, but the flight was postponed at the last moment due to technical issues.< p>