China & France Set to Launch Astronomical Satellite for Gamma-Ray Burst Detection

China & France Set to Launch Astronomical Satellite for Gamma-Ray Burst Detection

An astronomical satellite, jointly developed by Chinese and French scientists, is scheduled for launch in June 2024. It will detect gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and study cosmic evolution and dark energy, according to the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Research, development and assembly tasks, as well as environmental testing, for the satellite have been successfully completed. A quality review of the satellite before delivery has already been conducted by experts from China and France.

At the Innovation Academy of Microsatellites, Zhang Yonghe, the leader in charge of the satellite system, explained that the satellite is called a multi-band GRB detection satellite due to its wide bandwidth coverage.

The satellite possesses excellent maneuvering capabilities, stable observation capabilities, and the ability to conduct coordinated detection with Earth-based telescopes through rapid space-to-ground communication, Zhang said.

"After detecting gamma-ray bursts in space, the satellite will establish communication with Earth-based telescopes. It can transmit observational data from space to the ground within one minute, allowing more Earth-based telescopes to observe gamma-ray bursts. If signals of gravitational waves are detected, ground control can also rapidly send instructions to the satellite to observe these waves," Zhang said.

The satellite is equipped with four payloads. China is responsible for providing two payloads, including a gamma-ray monitor and an optical telescope, while France contributes the other two payloads—a hard X-ray camera and a soft X-ray telescope.

Gamma-ray bursts are immensely energetic explosions that have been observed in distant galaxies, making them the most significant targets for study in time-domain astronomy. Through this satellite, scientists from both countries hope to unravel scientific mysteries from the depths of the universe and since the Big Bang.

"Scientists aspire to discover the light emitted by very early stellar explosions. Due to the vast amount of time it takes for the light to reach Earth, it holds immense value in revealing the origin of the universe and shedding light on signals from the early universe," Zhang said.

Credit: CCTV Video News Agency

Duration: 2 minutes

Release Date: Jan. 26, 2024

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