The European-Chinese Smile mission is due to launch on Tuesday 19 May 2026, at 05:52 CEST / 04:52 BST / 00:52 local time on a European Vega-C rocket.
The initial launch date was postponed as a precautionary measure, after a technical issue was identified on the production line of a Vega-C subsystem component.
Both Smile and the Vega-C that will take it to space remain stable and safe.
