Wei Jianyan (L), Chinese principal investigator of the Space-based multi-band Variable Object Monitor (SVOM), and Bertrand Cordier, SVOM's French principal investigator, announce the first batch of scientific achievement obtained by Sino-French astronomical satellite at a ceremony for China's Space Day in east China's Shanghai, April 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
SHANGHAI, April 24 (Xinhua) -- An astronomical satellite jointly developed by China and France has detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB) dating back 13 billion years, likely originating from the collapse of an early star forming a black hole or a neutron star. This discovery offers humanity a glimpse into the universe's infancy.
The discovery made by the Space-based multi-band Variable Object Monitor (SVOM) was announced at a ceremony for China's Space Day in Shanghai on Thursday.
Launched on June 22, 2024, SVOM has completed in-orbit tests and detected over 100 GRBs, including several peculiar GRBs with unusual behavior, according to Wei Jianyan, SVOM's Chinese principal investigator.
Wei Jianyan ®, Chinese principal investigator of the Space-based multi-band Variable Object Monitor (SVOM), and Bertrand Cordier, SVOM's French principal investigator, announce the first batch of scientific achievement obtained by Sino-French astronomical satellite at a ceremony for China's Space Day in east China's Shanghai, April 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
The experimental simulation of the Space-based multi-band Variable Object Monitor (SVOM) is pictured at the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Shanghai, east China, April 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
The experimental simulation of the Space-based multi-band Variable Object Monitor (SVOM) is pictured at the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Shanghai, east China, April 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)■
