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Plasma-Studying Probes Launched Into Space
Friday, August 31, 2012 1:22
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Two Radiation Belt Storm Probes are launched aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, off to study two giant donuts of plasma that surround Earth. Full story: At 4:05 am, in Cape Canaveral, [NASA Announcer 1]: “Release.” NASA successfully launched its two Radiation Belt Storm Probes into orbit.The probes were part of a $686 million mission to study the radiation that encircles our planet. [NASA Announcer 2]: “Lift off the Atlas V rocket and twin spacecraft on a mission to unlock the mystery of Earth's Van Allen Belts.” The probes were released in the rocket's upper stage on slightly different trajectories. Their goal is to study two giant donuts of plasma that surround the earth. Discovered in 1958 by James A. Van Allen of the University of Iowa, there are two concentric circles of plasma that change sizes along with solar weather patterns. They are filled with dangerous particles, so charged that humans would not be able to survive in such an environment. However, little is known about these donuts of plasma. Their movements are complex and seem to follow a magnetic field while also creating more fields. Their physical changes, which are often affected by solar winds, vary widely.-Though the inner belt is relatively stable, the outer one can grow and shrink. Satellites are generally sent into orbit either between or outside of these donuts. The outer belt can swell and encompass all the satellites, potentially disrupting communication networks. Each RBSP spacecraft …
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Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL2ZQ_7fH7o&feature=youtube_gdata
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