| Mission:
Gravity Probe B
Launch Date: April 20, 2004
Launch Time:
12:57:24
p.m. EDT (instantaneous)
Launch Vehicle: Delta II
Launch Pad: SLC-2
Location: Vandenberg Air Force Base,
California
Gravity Probe B is the relativity
gyroscope experiment being developed
by NASA and Stanford University
to test two extraordinary, unverified
predictions of Albert Einstein's
general theory of relativity.
The experiment will check, very precisely, tiny changes in
the axis of spin of four gyroscopes contained in an Earth
satellite orbiting at 400-mile altitude directly over the
poles. So free are the gyroscopes from disturbance that they
will provide an almost perfect space-time reference system.
They will measure how space and time are warped by the presence
of the Earth, and, more profoundly, how the Earth's rotation
drags space-time around with it. These effects, though small
for the Earth, have far-reaching implications for the nature
of matter and the structure of the Universe.
Gravity Probe B is among the most
thoroughly researched programs ever
undertaken by NASA. This is the
story of a scientific quest in which
physicists and engineers have collaborated
closely over many years. Inspired
by their quest, they have invented
a whole range of new technologies
-- technologies that are already
benefiting other branches of science
and engineering.
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Gravity
Probe B Pre-Launch Briefing
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| 24
May 2004
Gravity Probe B reaches one-month milestone.
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20 April 2004
Gravity Probe B launches successfully.
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19 April 2004
Gravity Probe B launch postponed 24 hours.
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15 April 2004
The team is proceeding forward with a launch date of Monday,
April 19, at 1:01:20 p.m. EDT.
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2 April 2004
A NASA spacecraft designed to test two important predictions
of Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity is set to
launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., at 1 p.m. EDT,
April 17.
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17 Dec 2003
On Monday this week, the Flight Planning Board met and set
April 20, 2004 as the new launch date for Gravity Probe B.
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17 Nov 2003
After a final review of test data
before going to the launch pad,
spacecraft management made a decision
to reschedule the launch of Gravity
Probe B.
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11 July 2003
Spacecraft for NASA mission to test
Einstein's theory arrives at Vandenberg
Air Force Base launch site.
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Gravity
Probe B Official Web Site
Learn the background and details of
the upcoming mission.
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Gravity Probe
B Status Reports
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flow at KSC.
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The Delta Launch
Vehicle
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Boeing's Delta launch vehicles.
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