Delta II 7920-10C — mission imagery
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Gravity Probe B

Delta II 7920-10CUnited States Air ForceSpace Launch Complex 2W
Tuesday, April 20, 2004 · 04:57 PM UTCAdd to Calendar

This mission is complete.

Vehicle

Delta II 7920-10C

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Vehicle details are not available yet.

HeightN/A
LEO PayloadN/A
Launches1078
Successes972

Provider

United States Air Force

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Provider details are not available yet.

Mission Brief

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.

PayloadGravity Probe B
OrbitLow Earth Orbit
CustomerUnited States Air Force
Stages0
PadSpace Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Mission Timeline

14 / 14100%
Site lock

Launch Site

Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

LAUNCH SITE
34.756°N, 120.622°W

Schedule History

No delays or schedule changes recorded.