China and France Launch SVOM Satellite on Saturday to Study Gamma-Ray Bursts

Jun 22, 2024, 05:39 AM

China and France have successfully launched a new astronomical satellite on Saturday to study gamma-ray bursts, the universe's most powerful explosions. This joint mission, known as the Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM), aims to detect these bursts, which are typically caused by events such as neutron star collisions or supernovae. The satellite, a result of nearly 20 years of collaboration between Chinese and French scientists, will provide insights into the early universe by capturing gamma-ray bursts from billions of light years away. Gamma-ray bursts flicker like fireworks and release a blast of energy equivalent to over a billion stars.