2004 · United States Air Force
Gravity Probe B
successDelta II | Gravity Probe B
Gravity Probe B (GP-B) was a satellite-based experiment to test two unverified predictions of general relativity: the geodetic effect and frame-dragging. This was to be accomplished by measuring, very precisely, tiny changes in the direction of spin of four gyroscopes contained in an Earth-orbiting satellite at 650 km (400 mi) altitude, crossing directly over the poles.
Overview
- Date / time
- April 20, 2004 at 04:57 PM UTC
- Outcome
- success
- Launch site
- Space Launch Complex 2W
- Mission
- Gravity Probe B
- Mission type
- Astrophysics
- Orbit achieved
- Low Earth Orbit