Europe teams up with China on the SMILE mission to study Earth's "shield" against the Sun and predict solar storms, while NASA gives little attention to the European contribution that helped take the Artemis II crew towards the Moon.

Europe teams up with China on the SMILE mission to study Earth’s “shield” against the Sun and predict solar storms, while NASA gives little attention to the European contribution that helped take the Artemis II crew towards the Moon.

Written by Carla Teles

Published on 12/04/2026 at 23:31

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Europe and China join forces to study the Earth’s “shield” against the Sun and improve solar storm forecasting, while the European contribution to Artemis II remains little remembered

Europe has decided to take bolder steps in its space strategy by strengthening partnerships outside the traditional axis with the United States. Together with China, Europe has joined the SMILE mission to investigate how the Earth protects itself from the Sun, in a project that also aims to improve the ability to predict solar storms.

At the same time, discomfort grows over the unequal recognition in crewed missions. Even having delivered crucial technology for Artemis II, Europe has seen public attention focus on other partners, reigniting the discussion about what it means to be a “partner” in the era of modern space exploration.

What is the SMILE mission and why does it matter

The SMILE mission, a result of cooperation between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was designed to study the interaction between solar winds and the magnetosphere, the system that acts as a natural shield for the Earth against particles and radiation from the Sun.

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The “solar shield” of the Earth and the promise of predicting solar storms

The magnetosphere protects the planet, but many of the mechanisms behind this defense are still not fully understood. The goal of SMILE is to observe more clearly where and how the solar wind presses against this shield, mapping boundaries and responses of the system.

In addition to the scientific gain, there is a practical objective. Improving data analysis can enhance the accuracy of solar storm predictions, which is crucial because these events affect communications, navigation, power grids, and sensitive systems on Earth and in orbit.

Four instruments to observe a complex phenomenon

SMILE carries four instruments, each with a specific function:

SXI, a soft X-ray imager to capture images of the magnetosphere’s boundaries
LIA, a light ion analyzer to measure ionized particles related to the effects of solar storms
DPA, a detector plane set with mechanical and thermal support to maintain temperature stability
UVI, an ultraviolet imager to record auroras associated with peaks of solar activity

The combination of images and particle measurements helps link cause and effect between solar wind, magnetosphere, and ionosphere, creating a more complete picture of the planet’s protection system.

Division Europe China and participation of Spain

The mission was built with a complementary division. Europe contributed the SXI and DPA instruments and also the Vega rocket, responsible for launching the satellite and its systems. China developed the UVI and LIA instruments and the satellite platform that integrates the entire set.

An important detail is that Spain participates directly through INTA, which developed the DPA, reinforcing the weight of European institutions within the SMILE architecture.

The European discomfort with Artemis II

Tension rises when the comparison reaches the Artemis program. Canada received a seat in the Orion capsule for the Artemis II mission. Europe, on the other hand, provided the propulsion system that propelled the four astronauts toward the Moon, but saw this contribution receive little visibility.

The criticism is not about excluding partners, but about the imbalance of recognition, especially when the European technical delivery is pointed out as decisive for the mission.

Why China has become a strategic bet

Europe and China in the SMILE mission study solar storms and the magnetosphere, while Artemis II reignites the debate for recognition. — Tiangong

China has ceased to be an “emerging” space power and has consolidated its presence in the sector. The country operates the Tiangong station in low orbit, has advanced with uncrewed lunar missions from the Chang’e program, and has conducted exploration on Mars with the Zhurong rover. It also maintains the goal of sending taikonauts to the Moon by 2030.

In this context, Europe is approaching an actor capable of delivering scale, continuity, and ambition, making SMILE not just a scientific project but also a strategic movement in the space race.

Why diversifying partners may become a necessity

There is also a political backdrop: the possibility of drastic cuts in science funding in the United States, with the risk of impacting agencies and programs. For Europe, relying on a single partner becomes a vulnerability, and opening new fronts can protect long-term projects.

This does not mean breaking with NASA. The message is pragmatic: cooperating with more than one pole can accelerate results and reduce risks in a sector that requires consistency for decades.

And you: is Europe right to seek China to gain autonomy in space, or does this create unnecessary risk for future partnerships with the US?

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Europe teams up with China on the SMILE mission to study Earth’s “shield” against the Sun and predict solar storms, while NASA gives little attention to the European contribution that helped take the Artemis II crew towards the Moon.

Europe and China join forces to study the Earth’s “shield” against the Sun and improve solar storm forecasting, while the European contribution to Artemis II remains little remembered

What is the SMILE mission and why does it matter

The “solar shield” of the Earth and the promise of predicting solar storms

Four instruments to observe a complex phenomenon

Division Europe China and participation of Spain

The European discomfort with Artemis II

Why China has become a strategic bet

Why diversifying partners may become a necessity

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Europe teams up with China on the SMILE mission to study Earth’s “shield” against the Sun and predict solar storms, while NASA gives little attention to the European contribution that helped take the Artemis II crew towards the Moon.

Europe and China join forces to study the Earth’s “shield” against the Sun and improve solar storm forecasting, while the European contribution to Artemis II remains little remembered

What is the SMILE mission and why does it matter

The “solar shield” of the Earth and the promise of predicting solar storms

Four instruments to observe a complex phenomenon

Division Europe China and participation of Spain

The European discomfort with Artemis II

Why China has become a strategic bet

Why diversifying partners may become a necessity

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In Botswana, a salt flat of up to 16,000 km² that was once an African megalake spends months as an absolute white desert, but during the rainy season it transforms into a shallow sea that reappears from nowhere and can be seen from space in the middle of southern Africa.

A giant half-ton ring fell in Kenya from space, and more than a year later, scientists still do not know where it came from.

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