Gravity probe hit upside the head by solar flare

Gravity Probe B (I have to assume there was an A) is in orbit around Earth to detect the effects of a force called gravitomagnetism. What dat? Well:

"Gravitomagnetism is produced by stars and planets when they spin. 'It's similar in form to the magnetic field produced by a spinning ball of charge," explains physicist Clifford Will of Washington University (St. Louis). Replace charge with mass, and magnetism becomes gravitomagnetism.



"We don't feel gravitomagnetism as we go about our everyday lives on Earth, but according to Einstein's theory of General Relativity, it's real. When a planet (or a star or a black hole... or anything massive) spins, it pulls space and time around with it, an action known as 'frame dragging.' The fabric of spacetime twists like a vortex. Einstein [told] us that all gravitational forces correspond to a bending of spacetime; the "twist" is gravitomagnetism."

Anyhow, I only found out about GP B because of a blip about it on Spaceweather. Recent solar activity buffeted the satellite to the point where its star-tracking instrument temporarily lost its bearings. That situation's past, and I just wanted to post this composite of the sunspot group that produced the flare.