LAUNCH CENTER
Success
Tue Apr 20 2004
United States Air Force
Gravity Probe B
Launch Successful
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RECOVERY OVERVIEW
Location
No Recovery Specified
Type
No Recovery Specified
Rocket Details
Name:
Delta II 7920-10CDescription:
Delta II is an American space launch system developed by McDonnell Douglas, now part of the Delta rocket family operated by United Launch Alliance. With more than 150 missions and a nearly perfect track record, Delta II has established itself as one of the most successful orbital launch systems.
MISSION OVERVIEW
- Type: Astrophysics
- 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.
COMPLEX OVERVIEW
Location
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Pad
Space Launch Complex 2W