Zhang further explained that in the SMILE project, the UVI payload was originally assigned by ESA to the Canadian Space Agency, but progress stalled and Canada eventually withdrew. The joint steering committee of the SMILE mission then decided that China would take the lead in developing the UVI payload, with ESA providing image intensifiers and coated mirrors. China"s NSSC, together with domestic research institutions, ensured the successful completion of the UVI payload.

　　What"s more, China and Europe will jointly conduct flight control operations during the satellite"s orbital maneuvers. Zhang noted that SMILE requires more than 13 ignitions of its 490N engine to transfer from the launch orbit to its mission orbit. These maneuvers require strict monitoring of engine ignition and shutdown states, necessitating not only China"s ground station network but also ESA"s Southern Hemisphere tracking stations.

　　To support this, the China Satellite Monitoring and Control Center established dedicated data links with the European Satellite Operations Center, enabling Chinese controllers to receive telemetry and send commands via ESA stations. Both sides signed a joint interface control document allowing ESA to temporarily include Kourou and O"Higgins stations in the network during orbit transfer. End-to-end satellite-to-ground tests verified the reliability of the communication link, according to the mission insider.

　　"One of the major challenges of the SMILE mission was the extensive post-launch orbital maneuvers and adjustments, where the propulsion system played a crucial role. After launch, China also carried out monitoring and orbit adjustments," Zhang said.

　　The propulsion system and tracking technologies led by China were pivotal in successfully placing the SMILE satellite into a highly elliptical orbit, according to Zhang.