Did Gravity Probe B Fail to Meet Its Goals in NASA Review?

In summary, a review panel has found that the Gravity Probe B (GPB) mission, which aimed to test Einstein's theory of general relativity, has not been successful. The data collected was too noisy to accurately measure the effects and additional funding was requested to try to extract more information, but the panel doubted it would lead to significant results. The panel also gave top ranking to other space missions, such as SWIFT and the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, and recommended support for a project to build a new instrument called Gravity and Extreme Magnetism Small Explorer.
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http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn13938-gravity-probe-b-scores-f-in-nasa-review.html


The noisy data meant that GPB could not measure the effects as precisely as astronomers had by firing laser beams at mirrors left on the Moon by the Apollo astronauts.

GPB managers had asked for additional funding to March 2010 to try to extract more information from the data, but the review panel doubted they could reach their goals.

It warned that the reduction in noise needed to test rigorously for a deviation from general relativity "is so large that any effort ultimately detected by this experiment will have to overcome considerable (and in our opinion, well justified) scepticism in the scientific community". Gravity Probe B's principal investigator, Stanford University physicist Francis Everitt, could not be reached for comment.

The panel gave top ranking to SWIFT, which launched in 2004 to study fleeting cosmic explosions called gamma-ray bursts.
 
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It also recommended continuing support for the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, which launched in 2008, and for a project to build a new instrument called Gravity and Extreme Magnetism Small Explorer.
 

1. What is Gravity Probe B and why is it important?

Gravity Probe B is a satellite launched by NASA in 2004 to test Einstein's theory of general relativity. It is important because it helps us understand the fundamental forces of the universe and provides evidence for the validity of Einstein's theory.

2. How did Gravity Probe B measure the Earth's gravity?

Gravity Probe B used four gyroscopes to measure the rotation of the Earth, which is affected by the Earth's gravity. By measuring the subtle changes in the gyroscopes' spin, scientists were able to calculate the Earth's gravity and test Einstein's theory.

3. What were the final scores for Gravity Probe B's mission?

The final scores for Gravity Probe B's mission were an A+ for science and a C- for technology. The mission successfully proved Einstein's theory of general relativity, but some technical challenges were encountered throughout the mission.

4. How long did Gravity Probe B's mission last?

The mission was originally planned to last 18 months, but it was extended to over 10 years due to technical issues. The official mission ended in 2010, but data analysis and scientific research continue to this day.

5. What impact did Gravity Probe B have on our understanding of gravity?

The results from Gravity Probe B confirmed Einstein's theory of general relativity with unprecedented accuracy. This has greatly advanced our understanding of gravity and its role in the universe. The mission also paved the way for future space-based experiments in the field of physics.

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