The Swift GRB MIDEX mission

Swift is a first-of-its-kind multiwavelength transient observatory for γ-ray burst astronomy. It has the optimum capabilities for the next breakthroughs in determining the origin of γ-ray bursts and their afterglows, as well as for using bursts to probe the early Universe. Swift will also monitor the soft gamma repeaters and perform the first sensitive hard X-ray survey of the sky. The mission is being developed by an international collaboration and consists of three instruments, the Burst Alert Telescope (BAT), the X-ray Telescope (XRT), and the Ultraviolet and Optical Telescope (UVOT). The BAT, a wide-field γ-ray detector, will detect >100 γ-ray bursts per year with a sensitivity 5× that of BATSE. The sensitive narrow-field XRT and UVOT will be autonomously slewed to the burst location within 20–70 s to determine 0.3–5.0″ positions and perform optical, UV, and X-ray spectrophotometry. Strong education/public outreach and follow-up programs will help to engage the public and the astronomical community. Swift launch is planned for late 2004.