flown missionSuccess

Delta II | Gravity Probe B

United States Air ForceSpace Launch Complex 2W — Vandenberg SFB, CA, USAApr 20, 2004, 16:57 UTC

The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).

mission

Name: Gravity Probe B
Type: Astrophysics
Target orbit: Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

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.

schedule

NET (no earlier than): Apr 20, 2004, 16:57 UTC
Window opens: Apr 20, 2004, 16:57 UTC
Window closes: Apr 20, 2004, 16:57 UTC
Last updated: Jun 14, 2023, 03:52 UTC

vehicle & provider

Rocket: Delta II 7920-10C
Family: Delta
Variant: 7920-10C
Provider: United States Air Force
Type: Government
Country: USA

launch site

Pad: Space Launch Complex 2W
Location: Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Country: USA
Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
Coordinates: 34.7556, -120.6224