Exploring Earth's Radiation Belts and the Extremes of Space Weather
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since 30 Aug. 2012, 04:05:00 EDT
May 17, 2017
NASA's Van Allen Probes Spot Man-Made Barrier Shrouding Earth »
Humans have long been shaping Earth’s landscape, but now scientists know we can shape our near-space environment as well. A certain type of communications — very low frequency, or VLF, radio communications — have been found to interact with particles in space, affecting how and where they move.
The Van Allen Probes, the second mission of NASA's Living With a Star program, are providing unprecedented insight into the physical dynamics of the radiation belts and are providing scientists the data they need to make predictions of changes in this critical region of space.
Since their launch on Aug. 30 2012, the two Van Allen Probes have orbited the Earth, sampling the harsh radiation belt environment where major space weather activity occurs and many spacecraft operate.
The two spacecraft are measuring the particles, magnetic and electric fields, and waves that fill geospace. Only with two spacecraft taking identical measurements, and following the same path, can scientists begin to understand how the belts change in both space and time.
Media contact:
Geoff Brown
240-228-5618
Geoffrey.Brown@jhuapl.edu
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