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The Art of Gravity Probe B

Barron Storey’s connection with Gravity Probe B began in 1987 when the Stanford University group, led by Principle Investigator, Dr. Francis Everitt, approached him about illustrating a promotional brochure entitled “Gravity Probe B: Testing Einstein with Orbiting Gyroscopes.” Storey’s images which make up this gallery tell the incredible story of the cutting-edge science, precision engineering, and intricate collaboration behind Gravity Probe B’s test of two unverified predictions of Einstein’s general theory of relativity.

Launched on April 20, 2004, Gravity Probe B (GP-B) was a collaboration between Stanford University and NASA designed to test...
Artwork by Barron Storey of Gravity Probe B: What is Gravity Probe B?
Einstein’s general theory of relativity was embedded deeply within the larger framework of nineteenth and early twentieth century theory and...
Artwork by Barron Storey of Gravity Probe B: Einstein and General Relativity
Einstein’s general theory of relativity was embedded deeply within the larger framework of nineteenth and early twentieth century theory and...
Artwork by Barron Storey of Gravity Probe B: Theoretical and Experimental Background
For decades following its initial verification by a 1919 eclipse expedition which observed the deflection of starlight by the Sun...
Artwork by Barron Storey of Gravity Probe B: Leonard Schiff and Birth of Gravity Probe B.
Critical to Gravity Probe B were four gyroscopes consisting of spinning spheres of solid fused quartz encased within a quartz...
Artwork by Barron Storey of Gravity Probe B: Four Gyros
Reading the spin direction of a perfectly round object presented experimenters at Stanford with a complex and critical problem. Solving...
Artwork by Barron Storey of Gravity Probe B: Superconductivity and SQUIDs
With gyroscopes communicating their spin direction to the SQUIDs, scientists still needed something to serve as a reference point for...
Artwork by Barron Storey of Gravity Probe B: Telescope and Quartz Block
The task of keeping the experimental payload near the 1.8 degrees kelvin fell to a vacuum-jacketed device called a dewar.
Artwork by Barron Storey of Gravity Probe B: Dewar and Liquid Helium
Measuring 5 meters long and 1.6 meters in diameter, the fully integrated Gravity Probe B spacecraft was a remarkable example...
Artwork by Barron Storey of Gravity Probe B: Spacecraft and Orbit
To turn Schiff’s idea into a reality, the Gravity Probe B team needed to invent and verify several new technologies...
Artwork by Barron Storey of Gravity Probe B:
The early decades of development saw most of the work in the areas of concept development, technology design, and prototype...
Artwork by Barron Storey of Gravity Probe B: Preparing for Launch
One of the most important aspects of Gravity Probe B (GP-B) was a process longtime Principle Investigator, Dr. Francis Everitt...
Artwork by Barron Storey of Gravity Probe B: Team Members
Following launch on April 20, 2004, Gravity Probe B (GP-B) began data collection on August 28, 2004 and concluded on...
Artwork by Barron Storey of Gravity Probe B: Results and Implications