The<i>Swift</i>Gamma‐Ray Burst Mission

N. Gehrels(Goddard Space Flight Center), G. Chincarini(Brera Astronomical Observatory), P. Giommi(Agenzia Spaziale Italiana), K. O. Mason(University College London), J. A. Nousek(Pennsylvania State University), A. A. Wells(University of Leicester), N. E. White(Goddard Space Flight Center), S. D. Barthelmy(Goddard Space Flight Center), D. N. Burrows(Pennsylvania State University), L. R. Cominsky(Sonoma State University), K. Hurley, F. E. Marshall(Goddard Space Flight Center), P. Mészáros(Pennsylvania State University), P. W. A. Roming(Pennsylvania State University), L. Angelini(Goddard Space Flight Center), L. Barbier(Goddard Space Flight Center), T. Belloni(Brera Astronomical Observatory), S. Campana(Brera Astronomical Observatory), P. A. Caraveo(Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica Cosmica di Milano), M. M. Chester(Pennsylvania State University), O. Citterio(Brera Astronomical Observatory), T. Cline(Goddard Space Flight Center), M. Cropper(University College London), J. R. Cummings(Goddard Space Flight Center), Anthony J. Dean(University of Southampton), Eric D. Feigelson(Pennsylvania State University), E. E. Fenimore(Los Alamos National Laboratory), D. A. Frail(National Radio Astronomy Observatory), A. S. Fruchter(Space Telescope Science Institute), G. P. Garmire(Pennsylvania State University), Keith C. Gendreau(Goddard Space Flight Center), G. Ghisellini(Brera Astronomical Observatory), J. Greiner(Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics), J. E. Hill(Pennsylvania State University), S. Hunsberger(Pennsylvania State University), H. A. Krimm(Goddard Space Flight Center), S. R. Kulkarni(California Institute of Technology), Pawan Kumar(The University of Texas at Austin), F. Lebrun(Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives), Nicole Lloyd-Ronning(University of Toronto), C. B. Markwardt(Goddard Space Flight Center), B. J. Mattson(Goddard Space Flight Center), R. F. Mushotzky(Goddard Space Flight Center), J. P. Norris(Goddard Space Flight Center), J. P. Osborne(University of Leicester), B. Paczyński(Princeton University), D. M. Palmer(Los Alamos National Laboratory), Hae‐Sim Park(Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), A. Parsons(Goddard Space Flight Center), Jacques Paul(Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives), M. J. Rees(University of Cambridge), C. S. Reynolds(University of Maryland, College Park), James E. Rhoads(Space Telescope Science Institute), T. P. Sasseen(University of California, Santa Barbara), Bradley E. Schaefer(The University of Texas at Austin), Alexander T. Short(University of Leicester), A. P. Smale(Goddard Space Flight Center), I. A. Smith(Rice University), L. Stella(Astronomical Observatory of Rome), G. Tagliaferri(Brera Astronomical Observatory), Tadayuki Takahashi(Institute of Space and Astronautical Science), M. Tashiro(Institute of Space and Astronautical Science), Leisa K. Townsley(Pennsylvania State University), J. Tueller(Goddard Space Flight Center), Martin Turner(University of Leicester), M. Vietri(Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory), W. Voges(Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics), M. J. Ward(University of Leicester), R. Willingale(University of Leicester), F. M. Zerbi(Brera Astronomical Observatory), W. W. Zhang(Goddard Space Flight Center)
The Astrophysical Journal
August 20, 2004
10.1086/422091
Cited by 4,190Open Access
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Abstract

The Swift mission, scheduled for launch in 2004, is a multiwavelength observatory for gamma-ray burst (GRB) astronomy. It is a first-of-its-kind autonomous rapid-slewing satellite for transient astronomy and pioneers the way for future rapid-reaction and multiwavelength missions. It will be far more powerful than any previous GRB mission, observing more than 100 bursts yr-1 and performing detailed X-ray and UV/optical afterglow observations spanning timescales from 1 minute to several days after the burst. The objectives are to (1) determine the origin of GRBs, (2) classify GRBs and search for new types, (3) study the interaction of the ultrarelativistic outflows of GRBs with their surrounding medium, and (4) use GRBs to study the early universe out to z &gt; 10. The mission is being developed by a NASA-led international collaboration. It will carry three instruments: a new-generation wide-field gamma-ray (15-150 keV) detector that will detect bursts, calculate 1'-4' positions, and trigger autonomous spacecraft slews; a narrow-field X-ray telescope that will give 5'' positions and perform spectroscopy in the 0.2-10 keV band; and a narrow-field UV/optical telescope that will operate in the 170-600 nm band and provide 0farcs3 positions and optical finding charts. Redshift determinations will be made for most bursts. In addition to the primary GRB science, the mission will perform a hard X-ray survey to a sensitivity of ~1 mcrab (~2 × 10-11 ergs cm-2 s-1 in the 15-150 keV band), more than an order of magnitude better than HEAO 1 A-4. A flexible data and operations system will allow rapid follow-up observations of all types of high-energy transients, with rapid data downlink and uplink available through the NASA TDRSS system. Swift transient data will be rapidly distributed to the astronomical community, and all interested observers are encouraged to participate in follow-up measurements. A Guest Investigator program for the mission will provide funding for community involvement. Innovations from the Swift program applicable to the future include (1) a large-area gamma-ray detector using the new CdZnTe detectors, (2) an autonomous rapid-slewing spacecraft, (3) a multiwavelength payload combining optical, X-ray, and gamma-ray instruments, (4) an observing program coordinated with other ground-based and space-based observatories, and (5) immediate multiwavelength data flow to the community. The mission is currently funded for 2 yr of operations, and the spacecraft will have a lifetime to orbital decay of ~8 yr.

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