Van Allen Probes
The Van Allen Probes, formerly known as the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP), were two robotic spacecraft that were used to study the Van Allen radiation belts that surround Earth. NASA conducted the Van Allen Probes mission as part of the Living With a Star program. Understanding the radiation belt environment and its variability has practical applications in the areas of spacecraft operations, spacecraft system design, mission planning and astronaut safety. The probes were launched on 30 August 2012 and operated for seven years. Both spacecraft were deactivated in 2019 when they ran out of fuel. They are expected to deorbit during the 2030s.
Artist's impression of the Van Allen Probes in orbit | |
| Names | Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Astrophysics |
| Operator | NASA |
| COSPAR ID | 2012-046A / 2012-046B |
| SATCAT no. | 38752 / 38753 |
| Website | vanallenprobes |
| Mission duration | Planned: 2 years Final: 7 years, 1 month, 17 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Applied Physics Laboratory |
| Launch mass | ~1500 kg for both |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 30 August 2012, 08:05 UTC |
| Rocket | Atlas V 401 |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 |
| Contractor | United Launch Alliance |
| End of mission | |
| Deactivated | Van Allen Probe A: 18 October 2019 Van Allen Probe B: 19 July 2019 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Highly elliptical |
| Semi-major axis | 21,887 km (13,600 mi) |
| Perigee altitude | 618 km (384 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 30,414 km (18,898 mi) |
| Inclination | 10.2° |
| Period | 537.1 minutes |
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