NASA's Van Allen Probe A to re-enter atmosphere

NASA's Van Allen Probe A to re-enter atmosphere share this! Share Tweet Share Email March 10, 2026 NASA's Van Allen Probe A to re-enter atmosphere by NASA edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Andrew Zinin Gaby Clark scientific editor Meet our editorial team Behind our editorial process Andrew Zinin lead editor Meet our editorial team Behind our editorial process Editors' notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked trusted source proofread The GIST Add as preferred source Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain NASA's Van Allen Probe A is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere almost 14 years after launch. From 2012 to 2019, the spacecraft and its twin, Van Allen Probe B, flew through the Van Allen belts, rings of charged particles trapped by Earth's magnetic field, to understand how particles were gained and lost. The belts shield Earth from cosmic radiation, solar storms, and the constantly streaming solar wind that are harmful to humans and can damage technology, so understanding them is important. As of March 9, 2026, the U.S. Space Force predicted that the roughly 1,323-pound spacecraft will reenter the atmosphere at approximately 7:45 p.m. EDT on March 10, 2026, with an uncertainty of +/- 24 hours. NASA expects most of the spacecraft to burn up as it travels through the atmosphere, but some components are expected to survive reentry. The risk of harm coming to anyone on Earth is low—approximately 1 in 4,200. NASA and Space Force will continue to monitor the reentry and update predictions . Originally designed for a two-year mission, the Van Allen Probes A and B launched on Aug. 30, 2012, and gathered unprecedented data on Earth's two permanent radiation belts—named for scientist James Van Allen—for almost seven years. NASA ended the mission after the two spacecraft ran out of fuel and were no longer able to orient themselves toward the sun. The Van Allen Probes were the first spacecraft designed to operate and gather scientific data for many years within the belts, a region around our planet where most spacecraft and astronaut missions minimize time in order to avoid damaging radiation. The NASA mission, managed and operated by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, made several major discoveries about how the radiation belts operate during its lifetime, including the first data showing the existence of a transient third radiation belt , which can form during times of intense solar activity. When the mission ended in 2019, analysis found that the spacecraft would reenter Earth's atmosphere in 2034. However, those calculations were made before the current solar cycle, which has proven far more active than expected. In 2024, scientists confirmed the sun had reached its solar maximum , triggering intense space weather events. These conditions increased atmospheric drag on the spacecraft beyond initial estimates, resulting in an earlier-than-expected reentry. Data from NASA's Van Allen Probes mission still plays an important role in understanding space weather and its effects. By reviewing archived data from the mission, scientists study the radiation belts surrounding Earth, which are key to predicting how solar activity impacts satellites, astronauts, and even systems on Earth such as communications, navigation, and power grids. By observing these dynamic regions, the Van Allen Probes contributed to improving forecasts of space weather events and their potential consequences. Van Allen Probe B, the twin of the reentering spacecraft, is not expected to reenter before 2030. Provided by NASA Citation : NASA's Van Allen Probe A to re-enter atmosphere (2026, March 10) retrieved 13 March 2026 from https://phys.org/news/2026-03-nasa-van-allen-probe-atmosphere.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. 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Most of the 1,323-pound spacecraft will burn up, with minimal risk to people on Earth. Data from the mission continues to enhance understanding of space weather and its effects on technology and safety. This summary was automatically generated using LLM. Full disclaimer Let us know if there is a problem with our content Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form . For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines ). Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request -- please select one -- Compliments / Critique Typos / Errors / Inaccuracies Edit / Removal request Your message to the editors Your email (optional, only if you'd like a response) Send Feedback Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors. Your feedback is important to us. 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