GP-B

Satellite information

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Satellite Type and Status

PAYLOADIN ORBIT

Key statistics

Satellite GP-B at a glance.

Uptime

7862

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: 97.115 minutes

Inclination: 89.8447 deg

SMA: 6998.688 km

Apoapsis: 622.741 km

Periapsis: 618.366 km

RAAN: 54.689 deg

Eccentricy: 0.00031253

Argument of periapsis: 79.7437 deg

Mean anomaly: 280.414 deg

Mean motion: 14.82783665 rev/day

Mean motion (dot): 0.00001594 rev/day2

B* drag term: 0.00019534878 1/REarth

Two-line elements (TLE)

Creation date: Oct. 28, 2025, 7:11 p.m.

Reference frame: TEME

Reference center: EARTH

Epoch: Oct. 28, 2025, 7:50 a.m. UTC

TLE line 0: 0 GP-B

TLE line 1: 1 28230U 04014A 25301.32691882 .00001594 00000-0 19535-3 0 9999

TLE line 2: 2 28230 89.8447 54.6890 0003125 79.7437 280.4140 14.82783665617987

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
CZ-6A DEB SSO 2025-10-11 13:47:41 0.0002454813 397.0 (m) DEBRIS
CZ-2D R/B SSO 2025-10-09 11:51:54 0.01994035 89.0 (m) ROCKET BODY
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

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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