One of the most important aspects of Gravity Probe B (GP-B) was a process longtime Principle Investigator, Dr. Francis Everitt referred to as interdisciplinary invention.
One of the most important aspects of Gravity Probe B (GP-B) was a process longtime Principle Investigator, Dr. Francis Everitt referred to as interdisciplinary invention. According to Everitt, finding solutions to the difficult development problems of GP-B depended upon new engineering ideas which themselves required new physics from other fields such as cryogenics—a process which intermingled the disciplines far more than the usual interdisciplinary research. Engineering and science teams, students, and contractors across Stanford, NASA, Lockheed, and many other institutions contributed greatly to the program.
Image credit: Stanford University/Barron Storey