SVOM Project (Space Variable Objects Monitor), in cooperation with China, consists in developing an X and gamma-ray astronomy mission which main objective is the observation and characterisation of the Gamma-Ray Bursts from the deep Universe. SVOM was the aim of a Memorandum of Understanding between CNSA (China National Space Administration) and CNES defining the responsibilities shared between the agencies.

SVOM satellite will be put in orbit at 600 km altitude with a slight inclination (30°) to avoid the disturbances existing in the polar areas. It will carry four main instruments:

one X and gamma rays camera (ECLAIRs, France),
one low energy X-rays telescope (MXT, France),
one gamma-ray burst spectrometer (GRM, China)
and one visible telescope (VT, China).

When a gamma-ray burst will be detected by ECLAIRs, the satellite will be able to re-direct itself very quickly (in less than a few minutes) to complete the observations of large field of view instruments (ECLAIRs and GRM) by punctual observations, in the soft X-rays domain with the MXT and in the visible domain with the VT. The information must also be transmitted to the ground in less than one minute for the observation by the dedicated robotic telescopes as well as the large ground telescopes.