Project Description

Fourteen European companies and institutes are joining forces in a European Union (EU) Horizon 2020 project called “SMall Innovative Launcher for Europe” (SMILE). The project aims at designing a launcher for satellites up to 50 kg.

The objectives of the SMILE project are:

  • To design a concept for an innovative, cost-effective European launcher for small satellites.

  • To design a Europe-based ground facility for small launchers based on the evolution of the existent sounding rocket launch site at Andøya Space Center.

  • To increase the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of critical technologies for low-cost European launchers.

  • To develop prototypes of components, demonstrating this critical technology.

  • To create a roadmap defining the development plan for the small satellites launcher system from a technical, operational and economical perspective.

We are in charge of the structural analysis of the launcher and we are engaged in most of the objectives.

For the latest information concerning the project, as well as a list of the partners involved, visit the SMILE project web site http://www.small-launcher.eu.

Project Details

Programme: Horizon 2020
Title: SMall Innovative Launcher for Europe
Acronym: SMILE
URL: http://www.small-launcher.eu
Grant Agreement: No. 687242
Duration: 36 Months
Kick off: January 2016
Funded by the
European Union
This Project is funded by European Union