On June 22, China successfully launched the Multi-band Variability Monitoring Satellite (SVOM) into space from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province.
At 3 PM Beijing time, the Long March 2C rocket carried the SVOM into the sky, placing it in orbit over 600 km from Earth. This position will be ideal for SVOM to carry out its mission of observing gamma-ray bursts – the most powerful energy phenomena ever recorded in the universe.
Multi-band Variability Monitoring Satellite. (Source: Xinhua)
China and France have established a joint team of about 100 scientists, with Chinese and French members accounting for approximately 60% and 40%, respectively. All members will have access to all scientific data, and SVOM’s data will be shared with the international astronomical community. The design, development, and operation of the satellite, as well as data analysis and research results publication, are conducted by both China and France.
With a designed lifespan of 5 years, and potentially extending up to 20 years if operations are successful, SVOM is expected to yield groundbreaking discoveries about the universe. Scientist Wei Jianyan, the head of the Chinese research team for SVOM, stated: “We believe that SVOM will help decode the mysteries of primordial gamma-ray bursts, thus shedding light on the evolution of the universe since its infancy.“
SVOM is equipped with four scientific instruments, including two developed by China and two by France. These instruments can observe with a wide field of view and high precision, covering a quarter of the sky, making it easier to detect bursts in space. Upon detecting a target, the satellite will automatically pivot towards that target and conduct long-duration observations with high accuracy.
According to scientist Wei Jianyan, the discoveries made by SVOM will play a crucial role in studying stellar evolution, thereby helping us answer challenging scientific questions such as the origins of heavy elements like gold and silver in the universe.
Satellite launched at 3 PM Beijing time. (Source: Xinhua).
The main scientific objectives of SVOM include rapidly searching for and locating gamma-ray bursts, measuring and comprehensively studying the electromagnetic radiation characteristics of these bursts, investigating dark energy and the evolution of the universe, as well as observing electromagnetic signals related to gravitational waves.
Bertrand Cordier, the lead French researcher for SVOM, noted: “By using gamma-ray bursts as tools to observe the primal universe, we can see the first stars, which is fascinating because it is the only way to obtain information about the universe at that epoch.”
SVOM is not just a satellite but also a complex system employing instruments linked both in space and on the ground, capable of communicating in very short time frames.
