NASA spacecraft detect third, temporary Van Allen radiation belt
Posted: Fri, Mar 1, 2013, 7:10 AM ET (1210 GMT)
A pair of NASA spacecraft launched last year have detected for the first time a third, and temporary, belt of radiation girdling the Earth as part of the Van Allen belts, scientists announced Thursday. NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes, renamed the Van Allen Probes after their launch last August, detected this new, transient belt shortly after launch. The belt remained in place until a shock wave from the Sun swept it away four weeks later. The existence of this third belt came as a surprise to scientists who had previously only seen two radiation belts and had not even theoretically considered the existence of a third belt. Scientists speculate that a solar storm around the time of the probes' launch may have created the temporary third belt.
A pair of NASA spacecraft launched last year have detected for the first time a third, and temporary, belt of radiation girdling the Earth as part of the Van Allen belts, scientists announced Thursday. NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes, renamed the Van Allen Probes after their launch last August, detected this new, transient belt shortly after launch. The belt remained in place until a shock wave from the Sun swept it away four weeks later. The existence of this third belt came as a surprise to scientists who had previously only seen two radiation belts and had not even theoretically considered the existence of a third belt. Scientists speculate that a solar storm around the time of the probes' launch may have created the temporary third belt.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, July 28
European start-up with SpaceX ambitions aims for a $2bn valuation
Financial Times — 7:06 am ET (1106 GMT) Europe's Ariane 6 rocket launches on postage stamps from France
collectSPACE — 7:05 am ET (1105 GMT) Amazon seeks federal approval to launch 5,105 satellites for direct-to-device network
CNBC — 7:04 am ET (1104 GMT) USSPACECOM releases Space Warfighting Environment 2040 as framework to ensure future of Joint Force’s all-domain advantage
US Space Command — 7:02 am ET (1102 GMT) Rocket Lab to launch up to 18 Space Force test vehicles from Alaska
Stars and Stripes — 7:02 am ET (1102 GMT) |
