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Delta II | Gravity Probe B

United States Air Force · Delta II 7920-10C · Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

United States Air Force's 1,060th launch · 3rd this year · humanity's 4,653rd orbital launch attempt

April 20, 2004Add to calendar
Success

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

Window: Apr 20, 16:57Apr 20, 16:57 UTC

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Gravity Probe B

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.

Astrophysics · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

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Pad — Space Launch Complex 2W

99 launches from this pad · 899 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Map of Space Launch Complex 2WOpen in maps