The Van Allen Probe spacecraft, a significant contributor to space research, is projected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere on Tuesday at approximately 19:45 EST (00:45 GMT). This event marks the culmination of a mission that was intended to last only two years but extended nearly seven, providing vital insights into the Van Allen belts that protect Earth from harmful cosmic radiation and solar activity.
The Van Allen Probe A, which launched in 2012, weighs in at more than 1,300 pounds (600 kg). It has been essential in determining the nature of the Van Allen belts. These belts, named after physicist James Van Allen, serve as a shield for Earth against cosmic radiation, solar storms, and the solar wind. The Van Allen Probe made some stunning discoveries during its mission to further understand Earth’s electromagnetic shield. In fact, it even gave the first data confirmation of a transient third radiation belt.
When the Van Allen Probe launched it was only intended for a two-year mission. It shockingly continued to function for another seven years, until it eventually ran out of gas! It was its failure to keep itself pointed at the Sun that eventually brought its mission to an end. As it nears a re-entry, the idea is that you would burn most of the spacecraft up when re-entering into the atmosphere. However, some components may survive the descent.
NASA has estimated a 24-hour margin of uncertainty for the exact timing of the re-entry. As I mentioned before, the agency is clearly still on high alert. It’s important to understand that there’s a one in 4,200 chance a piece of the spacecraft might cause harm during re-entry. That risk is virtually zero, according to experts, considering the sheer scale of Earth’s landscape.
Van Allen Probe B, its twin, is not expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere before 2030. This remarkable, continuous operation allows researchers to investigate the ever changing and intricate dance of the Van Allen belts. They can study how these belts respond to solar activity.