Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Explorer: The First Results

Abstract

The Swift GRB Explorer mission is designed to discover ~100 new gamma-ray bursts each year, and immediately (within tens of seconds) to start simultaneous X-ray, optical and ultraviolet observations of the GRB afterglow. Since its launch on 20 November 2004, it has already collected an impressive database of gamma-ray bursts (reaching more sensitive limits than BATSE); uniform X-ray/UV/optical monitoring of afterglows (with a dedicated weatherless observatory with broad multi-wavelength imaging capability); and rapid followup by other observatories (utilizing a continuous ground link with burst alerts and data posted immediately to the GCN).