GP-B

Satellite information

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Satellite Type and Status

PAYLOADIN ORBIT

Key statistics

Satellite GP-B at a glance.

Uptime

7689

Days in orbit

Revolutions

≈ 14.8

Per day

Orbit

LEO

Low Earth Orbit

Inclination

89.8

Latest

Satellite identification and parameters

Extended collection of information and parameters for GP-B.

Object identification

Identified? True

Debris? False

Object name: GP-B

International designator: 2004-014A

Object number (NORAD): 28230

Object ID (CCSDS): 28230

Country: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (US)

Current information (Y/N): Y

RCS size: LARGE

Orbital parameters

Period: 97.139 minutes

Inclination: 89.8397 deg

SMA: 6999.844 km

Apoapsis: 623.214 km

Periapsis: 620.203 km

RAAN: 58.199 deg

Eccentricy: 0.0002151

Argument of periapsis: 75.7707 deg

Mean anomaly: 284.3757 deg

Mean motion: 14.82416584 rev/day

Mean motion (dot): 0.00001238 rev/day2

B* drag term: 0.00015263 1/REarth

Two-line elements (TLE)

Creation date: May 9, 2025, 2:46 a.m.

Reference frame: TEME

Reference center: EARTH

Epoch: May 8, 2025, 5:44 p.m. UTC

TLE line 0: 0 GP-B

TLE line 1: 1 28230U 04014A 25128.73929578 .00001238 00000-0 15263-3 0 9996

TLE line 2: 2 28230 89.8397 58.1990 0002151 75.7707 284.3757 14.82416584592415

Live tracking on map

Real-time ground track for satellite GP-B.

In-orbit conjunctions

A list of the most updated potential collisions computed for object GP-B.

Target Orbit TCA Probability of collision Miss distance Type
FENGYUN 1C DEB SSO 2025-04-05 23:40:12 0.0001081096 820.0 (m) DEBRIS
DELTA 1 DEB SSO 2024-11-19 16:57:21 0.0001385008 267.0 (m) DEBRIS
COSMOS 220 LEO 2024-10-05 13:15:20 0.001095561 315.0 (m) PAYLOAD
IRIDIUM 33 DEB LEO 2024-09-09 05:45:12 0.0007131074 112.0 (m) DEBRIS
CZ-2D DEB SSO 2024-08-10 09:16:30 0.0003031203 290.0 (m) DEBRIS

Associated space launch

Gravity Probe B (GP-B) was a satellite-based experiment to test two unverified predictions of general relativity: the geodetic effect and frame-dragging. This was to be accomplished by measuring, very precisely, tiny changes in the direction of spin of four gyroscopes contained in an Earth-orbiting satellite at 650 km (400 mi) altitude, crossing directly over the poles.

GP-B was lifted into orbit during the mission ‘Delta II | Gravity Probe B’, on board a Delta II space rocket.

The launch took place on April 20, 2004, 4:57 p.m. from Space Launch Complex 2W.

For more information about the launch, click the button.

Launch to space Delta II | Gravity Probe B
Delta II | Gravity Probe B

Agency: N/A

Status: Launch Successful

Launch date: April 20, 2004, 4:57 p.m. UTC

Rocket: Delta II

Launch pad: Space Launch Complex 2W

Location: Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

...

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