Media Gallery
On this page:
Animations
A “Simple” Experiment Captioned animation showing the simplicity of the GP-B experimental concept, contrasted with the complex engineering required to make the ultra-precise measurements required. |
Gravity in Newton’s Universe Captioned animation showing Isaac Newton’s concept of gravity as a force, acting instantaneously at a distance between objects. |
Gravity in Einstein’s Universe Captioned animation showing Albert Einstein’s concept of gravity as bodies moving along geodesic paths through warped spacetime |
Measuring Spacetime Curvature with Gyroscopes Captioned animation showing how space-borne gyroscopes are used to measure the geodetic & frame-dragging effects of gravity on Earth's local spacetime, asa predicted by Einstein's general theory of relativity. |
SQUID Magnetic Gyro Readout—Superconductivity, & the London Moment Captioned animation showing how superconductivity and the London moment enable SQUID magnetometers to read out the changing spin-axis orientation of the four GP-B spherical gyroscopes. |
The Drag-Free Satellite Captioned animation showing how a drag-free satellite works by using satellite to shield and "chase" a gyroscope or other "proof mass," which maintains a free-fall orbit. |
Orbit Insertion, Guide Star Acquisition & Measurement Animation Excerpt from the movie, “Testing Einstein’s Universe,” 2003, with new GP-B measurements animation created by Lee Kolb & Greg Trent, NASA/MSFC Animation Group, 2007 |
Polhode Motion Looping animation showing the actual polhode motion of gyroscope #1 at during early, middle and late in the mission |
Testing Einstein’s Universe
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Testing Einstein’s Universe Written, Directed & Produced by Norbert Bartel, Ph.D. Professor of Astrophysics & Space Sciences, York University, Canada, September 2003 Copyright ©2003 by Norbert Bartel |
Excerpts from the movie, “Testing Einstein’s Universe”
GP-B Measurement of the Geodetic Effect Movie excerpt Copyright ©2003 by Norbert Bartel New animation created by Lee Kolb & Greg Trent, NASA/MSFC Animation Group, 2007
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GP-B Measurement of the Frame-Dragging Effect Movie excerpt Copyright ©2003 by Norbert Bartel New animation created by Lee Kolb & Greg Trent, NASA/MSFC Animation Group, 2007 |
Previous Tests of General Relativity Francis Everitt describes previous tests of general relativity Copyright ©2003 by Norbert Bartel |
How Small an Angle is One Tenth of a Milliarcsecond? Animation showing the minuscule size of 0.0001 arc-seconds (i.e. 1/10 milli-arcsecond) Copyright ©2003 by Norbert Bartel |
GP-B: A Collaborative Effort Francis Everitt describes the collaborative effort necessary to carry out GP-B Copyright ©2003 by Norbert Bartel |
Superconductivity: SQUID Readout & London Moment Superconductivity—A magnetic readout for determining the spin-axis orientation of the gyros Copyright ©2003 by Norbert Bartel |
Spacecraft/Payload dissection A dissection of the GP-B experiment, starting with the spacecraft and moving in through the payload layers to the gyros Copyright ©2003 by Norbert Bartel |
VLBI Measurement of IM Pegasi's Proper Motion Relating the motion of the guide star, IM Pegasi, to distant quasars using VLBI to precisely measure its proper motion Copyright ©2003 by Norbert Bartel |
Pre-Launch Press Conference at NASA Headquarters April 2, 2004
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Pre-Launch Press Conference at NASA Headquarters (PLPC) Panelists: Don Savage, Moderator; Anne Kinney, NASA Science Mission Directorate; Rex Geveden, NASA/MSFC Program Manager; Francis Everitt, Principal Investigator; Bradford Parkinson, Co-Principal Investigator; Kip Thorne, Feynman Professor of Physics, CalTech |
Excerpts from GP-B Pre-launch Press Conference at NASA Headquarters, April 2, 2004
The Missing Inch Kip Thorne, Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics, CalTech |
The Significance of GP-B Kip Thorne, Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics, CalTech |
Why Perform Another Test of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity? Francis Everitt, GP-B Principal Investigator, Stanford University |
GP-B in the Context of Black Holes Kip Thorne, Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics, CalTech |
GP-B Student Involvement Francis Everitt, GP-B Principal Investigator, Stanford University |
1976 Viking Measurement of the Shapiro Time Delay Kip Thorne, Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics, CalTech |
Dragging Space Into Motion Around The Rotating Earth Kip Thorne, Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics, CalTech |
Gravity Probe A — Measuring the Warping of Time Kip Thorne, Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics, CalTech |
Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) — Building on GP-B Technology to Measure Gravity Waves Kip Thorne, Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics, CalTech |
Movie Clips
Francis Everitt: GP-B Public Lecture Francis Everitt, Stanford Brainstorm Lecture Series, May 18, 2006 |
Launch Commemorative Movie Short Documentary covering the period before, during and immediately following the April 2004 GP-B launch Produced my Mick Speer, NASA/MSFC Television |
NASA Video Footage of GP-B Launch & Spacecraft Separation Edited NASA video footage of the GP-B spacecraft launch and separation |
Simulation of Launch in GP-B Mission Operations Center B-Roll Footage showing a launch simulation exercise in the GP-B Mission Operations Center in 2003 |
Polishing & Measuring the Sphericity of a Gyroscope Rotor NASA/GP-B Stanford Video Archive Video shot in WW Hansen Experimental Physics Labs (HEPL) at Stanford University © 1998 Australian Broadcasting Company; Used with permission |
Thermal Connection Repairs to the Flight Probe and Replacement of Gyro #4 NASA/GP-B Stanford Video Archive Video shot in a clean room at Stanford University, where final repairs were made to the flight probe |
Moving the complete GP-B spacecraft to the Thermal Vacuum Test Chamber at Lockheed Martin NASA/ Lockheed Martin Video Archive The complete GP-B spacecraft, sans solar arrays, is moved to the Thermal Vacuum Test Chamber at Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space Co. in Sunnvale, CA |
Spacecraft arrives in a satellite pre-launch preparation room at Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA NASA/Stanford/Lockheed Martin Video Archive Arrival and preliminary testing of the GP-B spacecraft in a pre-launch processing room at Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA |
Pre-launch spacecraft preparations in a clean room at Vandenberg AFB, CA NASA/Stanford/Lockheed Martin Video Archive Pre-launch spacecraft preparations, including installation of the 4 solar arrays, and packaging for transport to the launch pad |
Preparation of the Boeing Delta II Rocket Fairing at Vandenberg AFB, CA Boeing/NASA Video Archive Installation of the Boeing Delta II rocket fairing that houses the GP-B spacecraft atop the rocket |
Pre-launch preparation of the GP-B spacecraft & Boeing Delta II Rocket at Vandenberg AFB, CA NASA/Stanford/Lockheed Martin/Boeing Video Archive Erection of the Boeing Delta II rocket stages, installation of the GP-B spacecraft inside the fairing, and removal of the gantry tower in preparation for launch |
Vandenberg AFB LaunchDay interview with Francis Everitt NASA Video NASA Launch Commentator, George Diller interviews Francis Everitt in the VAFB Launch Control Room one hour prior to the GP-B launch |
Vandenberg AFB LaunchDay interview with Brad Parkinson NASA Video NASA Launch Commentator, George Diller interviews Brad Parkinson in the VAFB Launch Control Room 26 minutes following the GP-B launch |
GP-B Exhibit at Stanford Community Day, April 10, 2005 ©2005 Stanford University; Video courtesy Bob Kahn, GP-B Public Affairs An overview of public educational demonstrations and hands-on learning activities in the GP-B exhibit at Stanford's annual Communicty Day in 2005
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Francis Everitt: Invited Talk at the Stanford Aeronautics & Astronautics 50th Anniversary Celebration, May 9, 2008
A talk about the engineering challenges and aspects of a physics experiment performed in space-borne satellite and the involvement of students in all phases of the experiment
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News Stories
CBS Evening News Story: Time & Gravity in 2004 CBS Evening News with John Roberts, December 28, 2003 TV news story on time, gravity, GP-B and string theory © 2003, CBS News. Video courtesy of CBS News. This video may not be copied or re-distributed. |
ABC World News Tonight Story: Scientist Spends Lifetime on Space Probe ABC World News Tonight with Elizabet Vargas, Sunday, April 18, 2004 TV news story on Francis Everitt and GP-B by Ned Potter and Clayton Sandell © 2004, ABC News. Video courtesy of ABC News. This video may not be copied or re-distributed. |
KTVU Television News Story on the GP-B Launch, April 20, 2004 San Franciso Bay Area KTVU 10:00 PM News story with anchor Leslie Griffith, and Health & Science Editor, John Fowler © 2004 by KTVU.com Video courtesy of KTVU News. This video may not be copied or re-distributed. |
NBC11 Television News Story on the GP-B Launch, April 20, 2004 San Franciso Bay Area NBC11 Evening News story with anchors Allen Denton & Lisa Kim, and Business & Technology Reporter Scott Budman © 2004, NBC11.com. Video courtesy of NBC11 News. This video may not be copied or re-distributed. |
Comedy Central: The Daily Show Story on Gravity Probe B John Stewart reports on the GP-B Launch, April 28, 2004. © 2004, Comedy Central. Video courtesy of The Daily Show. This video may not be copied or re-distributed. |
Stanford News: GP-B Team receives NASA Group Achievement Award Video by Jack Hubbard, Stanford News Service © 2005 Stanford University, Stanford News Service |
Audio Files
Francis Everitt’s Plenary Talk at the APS Meeting, 4/14/07 |
Mac Keiser’s APS Talk, 4/15/07 |
Brad Parkinson’s APS Talk, 4/15/07 |
John Turneaure’s APS Talk, 4/15/07 |
Paul Worden’s APS Paper on GP-B Technology Development, 4/14/07 |
Irwin Shapiro’s APS Paper on the GP-B Guide Star |
NPR’s David Kestenbaum’s pre-launch interview with Franics Everitt, 4/18/04 |
