Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences is the leader of the project “Relativistic effects in the orbits of Galileo satellites”. Research money is allocated by the European Space Agency.

The project aims to verify the validity of Einstein’s general theory of relativity in terms of time-space curvature by massive objects. For the first time, the curvature of space-time will be measured in a direct way that will allow express the curvature value in metric units.

The measurements will use the technique of satellite geodesy, and more precisely – the European satellite system Galileo. Until now, nobody has measured the direct curvature of space-time, because these effects are relatively small compared to other forces acting on artificial satellites – explains project manager, Prof. Krzysztof Sośnica.
More: http://www.glos.upwr.edu.pl/aktualnosci/51077/upwr_podpisal_kontrakt_z_europejska_agencja_kosmiczna.html