Smile mission cleared for science operations as X-ray work continues

The European-Chinese Smile mission was declared ready to begin science operations on 23 September, ESA says, following months of in-space commissioning. The spacecraft launched on 19 May and reached its target science orbit on 20 June. [1]

Smile is a joint mission by ESA and the Chinese Academy of Sciences to study how Earth responds to charged particles from the Sun. Its four instruments include an ultraviolet aurora imager, a soft X-ray imager, a magnetometer and a light ion analyser. ESA says ultraviolet footage taken on 24 July shows activity in the northern lights caused by a solar-wind disturbance. [1]

The X-ray imager has taken its first test pictures, but it detects too much stray light when pointed towards Earth. Teams are adjusting its settings and software to reduce the problem. [1]