Mr.Tee
In a significant milestone for international space cooperation, France and China have successfully launched a joint satellite to investigate the most powerful explosions in the universe. The Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) satellite, weighing 930kg (2,050 pounds), lifted off on Saturday from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan, China. The launch took place at approximately 3 pm local time (07:00 GMT) aboard a Long March 2C rocket, as reported by China’s state broadcaster CCTV.
Equipped with four scientific instruments—two from France and two from China—SVOM is designed to detect gamma-ray bursts. These bursts represent some of the most energetic events known, with light emissions that have traveled billions of light-years to reach Earth.
The SVOM project highlights a rare but notable instance of cooperation between a Western nation and China in the realm of space exploration. This collaboration involves not only the French and Chinese space agencies but also various scientific and technical entities from both countries.
Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, noted that such partnerships are infrequent due to concerns about technology transfer. “US restrictions on collaborations with China, especially in space technology, have generally discouraged its allies from engaging in similar initiatives,” McDowell told AFP. Nonetheless, he emphasized the significance of the SVOM mission, which, while not unprecedented, represents a substantial step in Sino-Western space collaboration.
China’s recent strides in space exploration have attracted a diverse group of international partners. The country’s Chang’e-6 lunar mission, which reached the far side of the moon earlier this month, carried payloads from the European Space Agency and research institutions from France, Italy, and Pakistan.
Beyond SVOM, China continues to foster space partnerships with countries such as Brazil, Egypt, and Thailand, underscoring its growing influence and capability in the space sector. This expanding network of international collaborations reflects China’s ambitions to advance its space exploration agenda and share its technological advancements globally.
