Space Variable Objects Monitor

Space Variable Objects Monitor
	SVOM artist impression
Names	Spaceborne multiband astronomical Variable Objects Monitor mission
Mission type	Gamma-ray burst observatory
Operator	CNES / CNSA
COSPAR ID	2024-116A
SATCAT no.	60088
Website	http://www.svom.fr/en/
Mission duration	3 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	SVOM
Launch mass	950 kg (2,090 lb)
Dimensions	2.5 × 2.8 m (8 ft 2 in × 9 ft 2 in)
Power	800 watts
Start of mission
Launch date	22 June 2024 (07:00:00 UTC)
Rocket	Long March 2C
Launch site	Xichang Satellite Launch Center
Contractor	China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude	625 km (388 mi)
Apogee altitude	625 km (388 mi)
Inclination	30°
Period	90.0 minutes
ECLAIRs
Instruments
ECLAIRs	Wide-field camera
GRM	Gamma-ray Burst Monitor
MXT	Microchannel X-ray Telescope
VT	Visible Telescope

The Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) is a small X-ray telescope satellite developed by China National Space Administration (CNSA), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the French Space Agency (CNES),^[5] launched on 22 June 2024 (07:00:00 UTC).^[2]

SVOM will study the explosions of massive stars by analysing the resulting gamma-ray bursts. The light-weight X-ray mirror for SVOM weighs just 1 kg (2.2 lb).^[5] SVOM will add new capabilities to the work of finding gamma-ray bursts currently being done by the multinational satellite Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission.^[5] Its anti-solar pointing strategy makes the Earth cross the field of view of its payload every orbit.^[6]

^ "Sino-French satellite launched into orbit, China's CCTV says". Reuters. 22 June 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Svom". Retrieved 12 June 2024.
^ Xin, Ling (22 June 2024). "China-France satellite launched to monitor most powerful explosions in space". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
^ "SVOM (Spaceborne multiband astronomical Variable Objects Monitor) mission". ESA Earth Observation Portal. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Lobster-inspired £3.8m super lightweight mirror chosen for Chinese-French space mission". University of Leicester. 26 October 2015. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
^ Zhao, Donghua; Cordier, Bertrand; Sizun, Patrick; Wu, Bobing; Dong, Yongwei; et al. (November 2012). "Influence of the Earth on the background and the sensitivity of the GRM and ECLAIRs instruments aboard the Chinese-French mission SVOM". Experimental Astronomy. 34 (3): 705–728. arXiv:1208.2493. Bibcode:2012ExA....34..705Z. doi:10.1007/s10686-012-9313-2. S2CID 54647027.

[1] "Sino-French satellite launched into orbit, China's CCTV says". Reuters. 22 June 2024.

[offsite-2] "Svom". Retrieved 12 June 2024.

[3] Xin, Ling (22 June 2024). "China-France satellite launched to monitor most powerful explosions in space". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 22 June 2024.

[ESA-4] "SVOM (Spaceborne multiband astronomical Variable Objects Monitor) mission". ESA Earth Observation Portal. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.

[Leicester-5] "Lobster-inspired £3.8m super lightweight mirror chosen for Chinese-French space mission". University of Leicester. 26 October 2015. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.

[6] Zhao, Donghua; Cordier, Bertrand; Sizun, Patrick; Wu, Bobing; Dong, Yongwei; et al. (November 2012). "Influence of the Earth on the background and the sensitivity of the GRM and ECLAIRs instruments aboard the Chinese-French mission SVOM". Experimental Astronomy. 34 (3): 705–728. arXiv:1208.2493. Bibcode:2012ExA....34..705Z. doi:10.1007/s10686-012-9313-2. S2CID 54647027.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]