ESA launched its first 50-50 joint science mission with China earlier this year. The SMILE spacecraft, built in China and launched by Europe’s Vega rocket, is studying the connection between the solar wind and Earth. The first ESA instrument to land on the Moon arrived on the lunar surface in 2024 aboard China’s Chang’e 6 mission.

Mundell said China has invited ESA to join more Chinese-led science missions. “That is something that we’re exploring,” she said.

The solar winds are changing, it seems.