Proportional helium thrusters for Gravity Probe B

DeBra, D.; Bencze, W.; Everitt, C. W. F.; VandenBeukel, J; Kirschenbaum, J

doi:10.1088/0264-9381/32/22/224016

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 14 publications

(18 reference statements)

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“…Following initial Stanford research, flight thrusters (paper 16, [30]) were developed and tested at Lockheed Martin utilizing, wherever possible, known flight hardware. Figure 12(b) is a sectioned thruster controlled through a teflon-capped titanium piston supported by two stainless steel springs, with the nozzle's expansion ratios and half angles chosen to optimize I sp .…”

Section: Attitude-translational Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Gravity Probe B test of general relativity

Everitt

Muhlfelder

DeBra

et al. 2015

Class. Quantum Grav.

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122

100

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The Gravity Probe B mission provided two new quantitative tests of Einstein’s theory of gravity, general relativity (GR), by cryogenic gyroscopes in Earth’s orbit. Data from four gyroscopes gave a geodetic drift-rate of −6601.8 ± 18.3 marc-s yr−1 and a frame-dragging of −37.2 ± 7.2 marc-s yr−1, to be compared with GR predictions of −6606.1 and −39.2 marc-s yr−1 (1 marc-s = 4.848 × 10−9 radians). The present paper introduces the science, engineering, data analysis, and heritage of Gravity Probe B, detailed in the accompanying 20 CQG papers.

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Section: Attitude-translational Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Gravity Probe B test of general relativity

Everitt

Muhlfelder

DeBra

et al. 2015

Class. Quantum Grav.

Self Cite

122

100

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The flight configuration, with all thrusters in opposing pairs, yielding eight bilateral actuators, is seen in figure 7. A complete description of the GP-B thruster design is given in [9].…”

Section: Actuationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Precision attitude control of the Gravity Probe B satellite

Conklin

Adams

Bencze

et al. 2015

Class. Quantum Grav.

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The Gravity Probe B satellite used ultra-precise gyroscopes in low Earth orbit to compare the orientation of the local inertial reference frame with that of distant space in order to test predictions of general relativity. The experiment required that the Gravity Probe B spacecraft have milliarcsecond-level attitude knowledge for the science measurement, and milliarcsecond-level control to minimize classical torques acting on the science gyroscopes. The primary sensor was a custom Cassegrainian telescope, which measured the pitch and yaw angles of the experiment package with respect to a guide star. The spacecraft rolled uniformly about the direction to the guide star, and the roll angle was measured by star trackers. Attitude control was performed with sixteen proportional thrusters that used boil-off from the experiment’s liquid Helium cryogen as propellant. This paper summarizes the attitude control system’s design and on-orbit performance.

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Proportional helium thrusters for Gravity Probe B

Cited by 2 publications

References 14 publications

The Gravity Probe B test of general relativity

The Gravity Probe B test of general relativity

Precision attitude control of the Gravity Probe B satellite

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