NASA's Van Allen Probe A Re-entering Earth's Atmosphere After 14 Years in Space
Summary
NASA's Van Allen Probe A, after nearly 14 years in orbit, is re-entering Earth's atmosphere with a low risk of debris causing harm. The mission contributed significant discoveries about Earth's radiation belts.
Key Points
- NASA's Van Allen Probe A, launched in 2012, is re-entering Earth's atmosphere after nearly 14 years in space.
- Most parts of the spacecraft will burn up upon re-entry, with a very low probability (1 in 4,200) of debris causing injury.
- The mission studied Earth's Van Allen radiation belts, discovering a temporary third belt during intense solar activity.
- The Van Allen Probe's mission ended in 2019 due to fuel depletion and loss of solar orientation.
