Science & Exploration 12/05/2026 3875 views 23 likes

ESA will be broadcasting live as the European-Chinese Smile mission launches at 04:52 BST/05:52 CEST (00:52 local time) on 19 May 2026.

Smile will launch on a European Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

Times subject to change at short notice.

Watch live from 05:30 CEST on 19 May

Tune into ESA Web TV directly or via the ESA YouTube livestream to follow the launch live.

The launch programme will run from 05:30–07:09 CEST. Milestones include:

Event Time after liftoff Time in CEST

Liftoff, first stage ignition 00:00 05:52

First stage expends all its fuel and separates 00:02 05:54

Second stage ignition 00:02 05:54

Second stage expends all its fuel and separates 00:04 05:56

Third stage ignition 00:04 05:56

Fairing opens revealing Smile to the sky 00:04 05:56

Third stage expends all its fuel and separates 00:07 05:59

First ignition of upper stage 00:20 06:12

End of first upper stage boost 00:24 06:16

Second upper stage boost…