NASA spacecraft weighing 1,300 pounds re-enters Earth’s atmosphere The Van Allen Probe spacecraft, which weighed more than 1,300 pounds (600 kilograms), re-entered Earth’s atmosphere nearly 14 years after its launch. The U.S. Space Force confirmed the event occurred on Wednesday over the Eastern Pacific region at approximately 06:37 EDT (10:37 GMT), roughly 12 hours later than initially predicted but within the expected margin of error. The probe, launched in 2012, was part of a twin mission designed to study Earth’s radiation belts. Most of the spacecraft was expected to disintegrate during re-entry, though some components may have survived. NASA stated the risk of any debris causing harm to a person on Earth was one in 4,200, which it described as a “low” risk. The mission, originally planned to last two years, extended to nearly seven years before the spacecraft ran out of fuel and could no longer orient itself toward the Sun. The probes operated within Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts, which are rings of charged particles trapped by the planet’s magnetic field. These belts shield Earth from harmful cosmic radiation, solar storms, and solar wind. The mission provided critical insights, including the discovery of a transient third radiation belt that can form during periods of intense solar activity. Van Allen Probe B is not expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere before 2030. NASA has also announced changes to its Moon landing plans. The agency is adding an extra mission to its Artemis program before landing astronauts on the Moon. This adjustment follows technical challenges that delayed the rocket’s launch, which NASA now claims have been resolved. The Artemis program aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon, with the next mission targeting an early April launch.#nasa #van_allen_probe #space_force #eastern_pacific #artemis_program
