The Space-based multi-band astronomical Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) is the first joint Franco-Chinese mission that was launched successfully on June 22nd 2024 from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

It is the result of a collaboration between the two national space agencies, CNSA (China National Space Administration) and CNES (Centre national d’études spatiales), with the main contributions of the Institute of Research into the Fundamental Laws of the Universe (Irfu) and the Research Institute of Astrophysics and Planetology (IRAP) for France and the National Astronomical Observatory (NAO) and the Beijing High Energy Institute (IHEP) for China.

SVOM is dedicated to the study of the most distant explosions of stars, the gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). GRBs are considered to be among the most catastrophic and energetic events in the Universe since they can release in few fractions of seconds the entire energy emitted by a star like the Sun throughout its entire life. They usually are classified into long and short duration gamma-ray emissions. The long duration GRB typically are associated with massive star collapse (supernovae) and last more than two seconds, while the short duration GRBs were previously thought to only occur when two compact objects – like two neutron stars or a neutron star and a black hole – collide to form a kilonova.

The mission consists of 4 main instruments of which 2 are French and 2 are Chinese. These observatories/telescopes will map the sky at different wavelengths (X-rays, Gamma-rays, visible) to identify and find the location of the GRBs.

The launch of the satellite opens the time when scientists will step up and start exploiting the data. SVOM, however, is already a long-term project during which the involvement of engineers, developers, and scientists has already been huge.

But for astroparticle physics, this is only the beginning of the adventure: the start of an ambitious physics program aimed at the study of the transient sky with the main objective of unraveling the secrets of gamma bursts, these emissions of gamma radiation as brief as it is intense from distant cosmic sources. Observation strategy, reactivity, wavelength coverage… with several instruments in continuous dialogue with a network of terrestrial telescopes, SVOM has numerous assets to reveal the origin of these mysterious phenomena while contributing to the development of multi-messenger astronomy.

Stay tuned for the forthcoming results of SVOM!