Photo: Bill Ingalls · Public domain (US government)
Mission
Astrophysics · 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…
What it put in orbit
| Object | Type | Orbit | Globe |
|---|---|---|---|
| GP-B 2004-014A | Payload | 617 × 620 km · 89.9° | Globe |
| DELTA 2 R/B 2004-014B | Rocket body | re-entered 2004-05-27 |
COSPAR ID 2004-014. Orbits from the CelesTrak satellite catalogue (perigee × apogee, inclination).