Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: DoctorBeaver on 21/08/2007 19:49:25

Title: Gravity Probe - the engineering is amazing
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 21/08/2007 19:49:25: I've just been reading about GP-B (Gravity Probe B) at http://einstein.stanford.edu/ (http://einstein.stanford.edu/). The precision of the engineering is stunning (the whole project is).
Title: Gravity Probe - the engineering is amazing
Post by: ukmicky on 21/08/2007 21:55:56: Sure is Doc.

But what are they doing with it now that it has confirmed and proved everything that it was sent up to do. Surely their not gonna allow the roundest objects known to man to rot in space in a giant tin can.
Title: Gravity Probe - the engineering is amazing
Post by: syhprum on 21/08/2007 22:26:19: It would be nice to think that this marvelous piece of engineering could be recovered but it would be vastly more expensive to do so than to reproduce it.
Take comfort from the thought that now the techniques to build it have been developed if further scientific projects require such engineering it is available.
Title: Gravity Probe - the engineering is amazing
Post by: lyner on 21/08/2007 23:10:37: Totally stunning, as you say, Dr.B. Also, as an unmanned mission - reliable and good value. In fact, it just wouldn't have worked at all if there had been humans on board.
All the best stuff is done in the absence of pesky operators to shake it about and breathe all over it.
Title: Gravity Probe - the engineering is amazing
Post by: another_someone on 22/08/2007 01:13:22: The engineering is indeed impressive, but my first thought is that the primary use for such ultra-high precision inertial guidance systems is for the military (which no doubt is where it will now be implemented now that it has been proven in the civilian satellite arena).
Title: Gravity Probe - the engineering is amazing
Post by: syhprum on 22/08/2007 06:41:05: What a sad thought, but I expect that when America attacks China they are allowing for the fact that their GPS system will be destroyed now the Chinese have demonsrated their ability to down satellites
Title: Gravity Probe - the engineering is amazing
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 22/08/2007 10:05:51: Quote from: another_someone on 22/08/2007 01:13:22
The engineering is indeed impressive, but my first thought is that the primary use for such ultra-high precision inertial guidance systems is for the military (which no doubt is where it will now be implemented now that it has been proven in the civilian satellite arena).

Quote from: syhprum on 22/08/2007 06:41:05
What a sad thought, but I expect that when America attacks China they are allowing for the fact that their GPS system will be destroyed now the Chinese have demonsrated their ability to down satellites

Good points, both. Then again, many civilian products in everyday use have been developed from military projects.
Title: Gravity Probe - the engineering is amazing
Post by: syhprum on 22/08/2007 19:06:44: I sometimes feel a little guilty that the reason I have this wonderful gadget for communicating with people all around the world is because integrated circuits were developed for ICBM's
Title: Gravity Probe - the engineering is amazing
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 22/08/2007 21:56:20: Quote from: syhprum on 22/08/2007 19:06:44
I sometimes feel a little guilty that the reason I have this wonderful gadget for communicating with people all around the world is because integrated circuits were developed for ICBM's

But the internet was developed for scientists.
Title: Gravity Probe - the engineering is amazing
Post by: daveshorts on 28/08/2007 11:06:06: Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 22/08/2007 21:56:20
But the internet was developed for scientists.
Working for the military - the reason it is so decentralised is to survive nuclear attack...

I definitely agree about Gravity Probe B, I really want to get it on the program, but am waiting for them to announce the interesting frame dragging part of their results.