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GP-B Post-Flight Analysis—Final Report - Gravity Probe B - Stanford ...

GP-B Post-Flight Analysis—Final Report - Gravity Probe B - Stanford ...

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Figure 3-3. Functional diagram of a SQUID pickup loop measuring the London Moment around a <strong>GP</strong>-B gyrorotor (left) and four SQUID readouts—one for each gyro (right).Using the London moment to monitor the gyroscope's orientation was the perfect readout scheme for <strong>Gravity</strong><strong>Probe</strong> B—it is extremely sensitive, extremely stable, applicable to a perfect sphere, and-most important, it exertsnegligible torques (forces) on the gyroscope.3.2.1.3 The Dewar: A 9’ Tall, 8’ Wide ThermosOne of the greatest technical challenges for <strong>Gravity</strong> <strong>Probe</strong> B was keeping the science instrument just aboveabsolute zero, at approximately 2.3 Kelvin (-270.9 celsius or -455.5 fahrenheit) constantly for 16 months orlonger.Figure 3-4. The <strong>GP</strong>-B dewar—one of the largest and most sophisticated dewars ever flownThe science instrument is kept at this supercold temperature, by placing it in a special 2,441 liter (645-gallon)dewar, or thermos, about the size of a mini van, that is filled with liquid helium in a superfluid state. This ninefoottall Dewar is the main structure of the <strong>GP</strong>-B satellite itself. In its 640-kilometer (400-mile) high polar orbit,the <strong>GP</strong>-B satellite is low enough to be subjected to heat radiating from the Earth's surface, and it is also subjectedto alternating hot and cold cycles, as it passes from intense sunlight into the Earth's shadow every ninety-sevenminutes. Throughout the life of the mission, key portions of the science instrument had to be maintained at aconstant temperature to within five millionths of a degree centigrade.72 March 2007 Chapter 3 — Accomplishments & Technology Innovations

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