Future Perspectives for Gamma-ray Burst Detection from Space

Abstract

Since their first discovery in the late 1960s, gamma-ray bursts have attracted an exponentially growing interest from the international community due to their central role in the most highly debated open questions of the modern research of astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, and fundamental physics. These range from the intimate nuclear composition of high-density material within the core of ultra-dense neuron stars, to stellar evolution via the collapse of massive stars, the production and propagation of gravitational waves, as well as the exploration of the early universe by unveiling the first stars and galaxies (assessing also their evolution and cosmic re-ionization). GRBs in the past ∼50 years have stimulated the development of cutting-edge technological instruments for observations of high-energy celestial sources from space, leading to the launch and successful operations of many different scientific missions (several of them still in data-taking mode currently). In this review, we provide a brief description of the GRB-dedicated missions from space being designed and developed for the future. The list of these projects, not meant to be exhaustive, shall serve as a reference to interested readers to understand what is likely to come next to lead the further development of GRB research and the associated phenomenology.