The first mission to observe Earth’s magnetosphere in X-ray light, SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer), is prepared to launch on May 19 via Vega-C rocket from Guiana Space Center. SMILE is a collaboration between the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences to provide a complete view of how the Sun affects Earth’s space environment. It was proposed and selected in 2015, with studies beginning in 2016 and implementation in 2019. The satellite is ~2300 kg (wet), containing the 76 kg instrument payload, a 490-newton main engine, 2 deployable solar arrays, Li-ion batteries and 4 science instruments: SXI (Soft X-ray Imager), a 33 kg camera with lobster-eye micropore optics (0.2–2.5 keV) to make X-ray observations of Earth’s magnetic field, UVI (Ultraviolet Imager), a 15.5 kg imager (160-180 nm) to image auroras, MAG (Magnetometer), two sensors on a 3-m deployable boom to measure the magnetic field, and LIA (Light Ion Analyzer), two 3 kg sensors (5 eV-25 keV) to monitor solar wind plasma. SMILE is intended for a Highly Elliptical Orbit with ~5000 km perigee × 121,000 km apogee, at 70° or 98° inclination. (Image Credits: ESA, CAS, NSSC)
Body (Image Credits:)
☆ International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: Expedition 74 seven members transferring ~2,950 kg of cargo from SpaceX Dragon CRS-34, while working with alfalfa plants, seed germination studies, artery ultrasound scans for cardiovascular health, DNA-inspired research, exercise device testing, and life support system maintenance. Next crew includes Soyuz MS-29 in July and SpaceX Crew-13 in September, which will rotate personnel and transition toward Expedition 75.
☆ Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: Shenzhou-21 three-member crew are planned to conduct 27 scientific experiments during their 7-month stay and return to Earth in June in order to further to test long-term habitation technologies and manage supplies delivered by the Shenzhou-22 craft, which is currently docked to the Tianhe forward port. 7,000 kg of cargo / 220 items recently delivered by Tianzhou-10 are being stowed and utilized. The crew completed their third spacewalk in April and may perform a fourth. Zhang Lu has completed seven total, setting a new record for most Chinese spacewalks.
◐ Lunar Enterprise News: Announcement of Artemis III crew members expected ‘soon’ as mission is set for NET late 2027 (Artemis II crew announced Apr 2023 for originally projected late 2024 mission). | Blue Moon Mk 1 Lunar Lander, dependent on New Glenn, could face launch delay beyond 2026 after the rocket’s failure. | Lunar Outpost raised US$30 million to aid its reconfiguration of plans to comply with new Artemis architecture | Rocket Lab (RKLB) stock spikes 34% following record Q1 earnings. | Prof. Joe Silk discusses future observatories on the Moon with IAU members and the public.
Near-Earth Objects Close Approaches – Mon May 18: Apollo Asteroid 2026 JH2 (0.0006 AU) | Fri May 22: Apollo Asteroid 2026 JE1 (0.007 AU) | Sat May 23: Apollo Asteroid 2026 JM (0.013 AU) | Sun May 24: Aten Asteroid 2023 KH4 (0.014 AU)
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