Testing General Relativity, and perhaps Quantum Gravity

[Kalimaa23]

Not sure where to put this, so I'll drop it here.

It seems that both NASA and ESA are committed to performing tests that may show deviations from GR.

NASA has LATOR

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/26mar_einstein.htm

And ESA has LISA
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/120376_index_0_m.html

and GAIA,
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/120377_index_0_m.html

and BepiColombo
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/120391_index_0_m.html

The main ESA fundamental physics page explains the relation between the missions:
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=30467

All of these mission should be operational by the end of the decade.
All in all, I think that the 2010's will be an exicting time to do physics, as we may finally get some new experimental results that the theorists (which I will hopefully be joining) can sink their teeth in.

Any thoughts, comments?

 

[LURCH]

Yes, it is an exciting time to be alive for science. I have been following LIGO and looking forward to LISA. Meanwhile, we should be gettingnusefull information from Gravity Probe B , which is due to launch in a couple of weeks (April 17, to be exact).

The data's on the way; going to git some 4-1-1!

 

[Nereid]

4-1-1?

There's also a thread in General Astronomy & Cosmology talking about LATOR too; can we combine them?

 

[FZ+]

Update: Gravity Probe B prepped for launch

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1189322,00.html

If the experiment confirms the general theory of relativity, it will be a stunning tribute for Albert Einstein in the centenary year of his annus mirabilis. If the results turn out to be different, then the cat will truly be put among the pigeons. A central pillar of modern physics will have collapsed, with consequences that can scarcely be predicted. Our painstakingly crafted understanding of stars, black holes and the universe would be thrown into the melting pot. The stakes are therefore very high. To paraphrase Neil Armstrong, one tiny twist for a gyroscope would turn out to be one giant leap for theoretical physics.

 

[LURCH]

4-1-1?

Sorry; "information". Got a little excited.

 

[Nereid]

Sorry; "information". Got a little excited.

Let me guess ... in the US, if you dial 411, a friendly voice-activated system will try to find a telephone number for you (in exchange for your hard-earned cash?); if it fails you *might* be connected to a real live human (possibly in the Philippines), and everyone ( ) in the US calls this 'information'?

 

[LURCH]

Let me guess ... in the US, if you dial 411, a friendly voice-activated system will try to find a telephone number for you (in exchange for your hard-earned cash?); if it fails you *might* be connected to a real live human (possibly in the Philippines), and everyone ( ) in the US calls this 'information'?

Exacterly

 

[Phobos]

let's try this in the relativity forum...

 

[meemoe_uk]

@ FZ+
Yeah!
Gravity probe B rulz! What a fantastic piece of kit!
Anyone fancy guessing if the GPB results will conform with GR?

I reckon they'll totally conform!
Space time is warped by gravity. We already knew really. And we known pretty much exactly how much it is warped, since 1916.
But it's just nice to go over old familiar ground. Just like when you replay all the deathmatch levels on unreal tournament. 'cept this cost a bit more. About $700m more.

But it's not a certainty!
Has that bizarre slowing of satelitte bug been squashed yet? Any chance GPB will shed light on that?

 

[Nereid]

Gravity Probe B

Now's the chance for all those with alternative theories to GR: what do YOU predict the GPB results will be? Write them down, and publish them (e.g. in PF's own Theory Development).

"bizzare slowing of satellite bug" = Pioneer anomaly? If so, AFAIK it remains just that, an anomaly; no other observations to confirm it, yet further analyses continue to fail to identify its origin as a systematic effect, due to known phenomena.