NASA spacecraft could fall to Earth: what we know about the risks
Фото: NASA
The 1,323-pound (600-kilogram) Van Allen A probe, which was launched in August 2012 along with its twin, the Van Allen B probe, to study the radiation belts around Earth, is approaching our planet.
This is reported by the publication Space.
It is noted that after the mission ended, the probes remained in orbit. Now one of them has begun to gradually descend and may soon enter our planet’s atmosphere.
According to the publication, the Van Allen Probe A is scheduled to re-enter the atmosphere on Tuesday, March 10, at approximately midnight Kyiv time. However, the time may change by several hours.
Earth’s radiation belts are rings of charged particles trapped by the planet’s magnetic field. They help protect Earth from cosmic rays, solar storms, and solar wind. Such radiation can be dangerous to astronauts, satellites, and ground-based systems such as communications, navigation, and power grids.
NASA launched two Van Allen Probes to study them. The probes operated in highly elliptical orbits at distances ranging from 618 to over 30,000 kilometers from Earth, and for the first time in several years, they examined the radiation belts directly from the inside. The data they collected is still being analyzed by scientists today.
The mission ended in 2019 when the spacecraft ran out of fuel. It was originally thought that the probes would not leave orbit until 2034. However, increased solar activity has caused the Earth’s atmosphere to expand, accelerating the spacecraft’s descent into orbit.
According to new calculations, Van Allen Probe B could fall around 2030, while Van Allen Probe A will enter the atmosphere in the coming days.
NASA expects most of the spacecraft to burn up during reentry. Small fragments could reach the Earth’s surface, but the risk to humans is considered very low — about a one in 4,200 chance. The debris will most likely fall into the ocean, as water covers about 70% of the planet’s surface.
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