The phenomenon of gamma-ray bursts and COS-B

Recent reports of gamma-ray bursts of cosmic ray origin, recorded by four Vela satellites during the past six years or so, have given rise to considerable speculation as to the cause and origin of the bursts. To add to the observational data available, the COS-B satellite, scheduled for launch in the spring of 1975, has been adapted to the study of such bursts by the addition of two small electronics units, which will provide information on their position and fine temporal structure.