Old Project Avalon Forum (ARCHIVE) - View Single Post - Gravity Probe B Update / Frame Dragging Expmnt.

dayzero · 02-20-2009, 11:02 AM

it was an unusual satellite probe featuring 4 perfect spheres in gyroscopes at perfect zero to test relativity of mass to space/time.
the theory is called 'frame dragging' where the mass of the earth theoretically 'drags' space/time.

nasa nearly pulled the launch, which was strange as I believe it was one of the most expensive and longest-in-preparation missions ever.
then, once it came back, nasa pulled the funding required to crunch through all the data. hmm.
so they left nasa and finally got independent funding, and the crunching is now back on track.

the links down the end have some good presentations, and there's a pretty lucid scientist down there too.

02-20-2009, 11:02 AM	#3
dayzero Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southern England Posts: 458	Re: Gravity Probe B Update / Frame Dragging Expmnt. it was an unusual satellite probe featuring 4 perfect spheres in gyroscopes at perfect zero to test relativity of mass to space/time. the theory is called 'frame dragging' where the mass of the earth theoretically 'drags' space/time. nasa nearly pulled the launch, which was strange as I believe it was one of the most expensive and longest-in-preparation missions ever. then, once it came back, nasa pulled the funding required to crunch through all the data. hmm. so they left nasa and finally got independent funding, and the crunching is now back on track. the links down the end have some good presentations, and there's a pretty lucid scientist down there too.