Gravity Probe B Technology
Extraordinary Technologies
How round are the GP-B gyroscope rotors? How do you measure the spin axis orientation of a near-perfect, spherical gyro rotor with no markings? How and why did the liquid helium escape from the dewar? How did the telescope keep the spacecraft centered on the guide star?
Go to Extraordinary Technologies.
Payload & Spacecraft
What components comprise the GP-B payload and spacecraft? How are the payload and spacecraft integrated? What is a drag-free satellite and why is this important for GP-B? What kinds of redundancy was built into the GP-B payload and spacecraft systems?
Go to Payload & Spacecraft.
Unique Challenges & Solutions
What were some of the unique technological challenges that GP-B had to address in order to carry out this unprecedented test of Einstein's theory of gravity? How were these challenges solved and what were the results? Learn some bonus facts about GP-B technologies.
Technology Stories
Why are the solar panels on the spacecraft arranged at such odd angles? Why are there four windows in the probe; what is special about them? What is unique about the GP-B science telescope? Read vignettes about various GP-B technologies.
Go to Technology Stories.
Technology Papers & Reports
Delve into the details of GP-B technologies. This archive contains many technical papers and reports, divided into two main categories: Scientific & Technical docments and Procedural documents. Each main category is further divided into sub-categories.
Go to Papers & Reports.
Technology Spinoffs
What does Einstein's theory have to do with farming? How have various technological innovations developed for GP-B been used or adapted for other purposes? What GP-B technologies can readily be transferred to other NASA missions?
Go to Technology Spinoffs.
Visual Tour
Take a visual tour of the GP-B spacecraft and payload. Graphic designer, Katherine Stephenson, created this Web-book that provides facts, photos and drawings for each of the main components of the GP-B spacecraft and its unique payload.
Go to Visual Tour (new window).