Gravity Probe B, delivery of probe

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Abstract/Contents

About the project: Gravity Probe B (GP-B) is a NASA physics mission to experimentally investigate Einstein’s 1916 general theory of relativity—his theory of gravity. GP-B uses four spherical gyroscopes and a telescope, housed in a satelliteorbiting 642 km (400 mi) above the Earth, to measure, with unprecedented accuracy, two extraordinary effects predicted by the general theory of relativity: 1) the geodetic effect—the amount by which the Earth warps the localspacetime in which it resides; and 2) the frame-dragging effect—the amount by which the rotating Earth drags its local spacetime around with it. GP-B tests these two effects by precisely measuring the precession (displacement)angles of the spin axes of the four gyros over the course of a year and comparing these experimental results with predictions from Einstein’s theory.

Sponsor	National Research Council (U.S.). Task Group on Gravity Probe B
Researcher	Stanford University. Department of Physics
Researcher	Everitt, Francis

Finding Aid	Title Gravity Probe B Records (SC1274)
Location	https://purl.stanford.edu/tf702wb8930
Location	SC1274
Repository	Stanford University. Libraries. Department of Special Collections and University Archives

Use and reproduction: The materials are open for research use and may be used freely for non-commercial purposes with an attribution. For commercial permission requests, please contact the Stanford University Archives (universityarchives@stanford.edu).

Gravity Probe B records, 1983-2008

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