China and France will jointly launch the SVOM mission to search for gamma-ray bursts from space

China and France will launch a joint satellite mission to study one of the most powerful explosions in the universe, a gamma-ray burst (GRB), space.com reported on March 5. The mission, called the Multiband Astronomical Variable Object Monitoring Satellite (SVOM), involves the launch of a satellite equipped with high-energy gamma-ray and X-ray telescopes to observe and study the physical properties, evolution, and cosmological significance of GRBS. The implementation of the mission will contribute to the in-depth understanding of the most mysterious and powerful events in the universe and promote the cooperation between China and France in the field of space science. Gamma-ray bursts are extremely powerful explosions that instantly release tens to hundreds of billions of times more energy than the Sun. They are caused by events such as the death process of certain stars, the collision of stars, or the merger of black holes. Although gamma-ray bursts occur far, far away in the universe, they can still pose a threat to life on Earth. If gamma-ray bursts were directed toward Earth, they would release radiation strong enough to destroy the ozone layer and cause mass extinctions on Earth.

To better understand gamma-ray bursts, scientists need to observe and study them using high-energy gamma-ray telescopes. The SVOM mission will launch a satellite equipped with high-energy gamma-ray and X-ray telescopes that will be able to pinpoint and observe gamma-ray bursts in seconds and provide scientists with critical information about these events.