GCN 44093: GRB 260320A: Glowbug gamma-ray detection

C.C. Cheung, R. Woolf, M. Kerr, J.E. Grove (NRL), A. Goldstein (USRA), C.A. Wilson-Hodge, D. Kocevski (MSFC), and M.S. Briggs (UAH) report:

The Glowbug gamma-ray telescope [1,2,3], operating on the International Space Station, confirms the detection of GRB 260320A, which was detected by NuSTAR (GCN 44064), SVOM/GRM (sb26032003), Insight-HXMT/HE (GCN 44077), and Konus-Wind (Trig_Time 19:40:01.257).  The burst onset is at 2026-03-20 19:40:02, with a peak at ~T0+1.5s, and a burst duration of ~7s.  Note that data throughout the detection interval suffered from deadtime in various detectors.

The analysis results presented here are preliminary and use a response function that lacks a detailed characterization of the surrounding passive structure of the ISS.

Glowbug is a NASA-funded technology demonstrator for sensitive, low-cost gamma-ray transient telescopes developed, built, and operated by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) with support from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, USRA, and NASA MSFC.  It was launched on 2023 March 15 aboard the Department of Defense Space Test Program’s STP-H9 to the ISS and operated until 2024 April when it was put in safe storage on orbit. Glowbug was removed from storage and resumed operation on 2025 September 12.

[1] Grove, J.E. et al. 2020, Proc. Yamada Conf. LXXI, arXiv:2009.11959
[2] Woolf, R.S. et al. 2022, Proc. SPIE, 12181, id. 121811O
[3] Woolf, R.S. et al. 2024, Proc. SPIE, 13151, id. 1315108

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release.  Distribution is unlimited.