Van Allen Probes

The Van Allen Probes, formerly known as the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP), are 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. Probe A deorbited on 11 March 2026, while Probe B will not deorbit until the early 2030s.