NASA’s Van Allen Probe A plunges to Earth, closing a chapter on radiation belt mysteries critical for moon missions A 1,300-pound NASA satellite, the Van Allen Probe A, re-entered Earth’s atmosphere after nearly 14 years studying the hazardous Van Allen radiation belts. The probe’s mission provided critical data on radiation zones that future astronauts must traverse for lunar and deep-space exploration. It revealed a temporary third radiation belt during intense solar activity and broke longevity records for spacecraft in that hostile region. NASA states the data is foundational for solving technical radiation challenges before crewed missions beyond Earth’s orbit. The early re-entry was…

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