Lift off of the
Atlas V rocket
and twin spacecraft on a mission
to unlock the mysteries
of Earths Van Allen Belts
About 600 miles from Earth's surface is the first of two donut-shaped electron swarms,
known as the Van Allen radiation belts. On Aug. 30, 2012, NASA launched an Atlas V rocket
from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida with twin Radiation Belt Storm Probe,
or RBSP, satellites on board.
This area of radiation surrounding the Earth was discovered by America's first satellite.
Explorer 1, launched Jan. 31, 1958, confirmed the existence of the radiation belts using
instruments developed by Dr. James Van Allen,
professor of physics at the University of Iowa.
More than half a century later, the two RBSP
satellites are packed with a comprehensive set of
instruments designed to look at not only particles within the radiation belts,
but also the plasma waves, electric fields and magnetic fields that transport
and guide those particles.
Now known as NASA's Van Allen Probes, the twin spacecraft are helping scientists better
understand the shape and size of the belts.
The harsh radiation can be damaging to a satellites health, so scientists want to know just
which orbits could jeopardize spacecraft in various situations.
Understanding the radiation in these areas is crucial for protecting technology in space,
such as satellites vital for communication,
navigation and weather forecasting here on Earth.