Mission Description

The Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) is a French/Chinese planned small X-ray telescope satellite under development by China National Space Administration (CNSA) and the Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES). SVOM will study the explosions of massive stars by analysing the resulting gamma-ray bursts. The lightweight X-ray mirror for SVOM weighs just 1 kg (2.2 lb). SVOM will add new capabilities to the work of finding gamma-ray bursts currently being done by the multinational satellite Swift. Its anti-solar pointing strategy makes the Earth cross the field of view of its payload every orbit.