The SVOM mission, a pathfinder for THESEUS

Abstract

The Sino-French space mission SVOM (Space-based multi-band astronomical Variable Objects Monitor) is mainly designed to detect and localize Gamma-Ray Burst events (GRBs). The satellite, to be launched late 2021, embarks a set of gamma-ray, X-ray and optical imagers. Thanks to its pointing strategy, quick slew capability and fast data connection to earth, ground based observations with large telescopes will allow us to measure redshifts for an unprecedented sample of GRBs. We discuss here the overall science goals of the SVOM mission in the framework of the multi-wavelength and multi-messenger panorama of the next decade. Finally we show how some developments of the SVOM mission will be helpful for the THESEUS project.