globe is surrounded by two huge regions of charged particle like protons and electrons , and these areas are known as the Van Allen irradiation belts . These rap can mysteriously change their intensity , posing a threat to astronauts and sensitive electronics .
To get to the bottom of what makes the Van Allen belt tick , two experiment will soon begin . The first is NASA ’s Radiation Belt Space Probes , which will send two satellites into space right above the equator . This RBSP mission will then honour the bill particle that move along the charismatic lines down towards the terminal . The hope is that this careful observance will validate one of the many theories that seek to explicate why the Van Allen belts wax and wane in intensity .
At the same prison term , Dartmouth physicist Robyn Millan is head up Balloon Array for RBSP Relativistic Electron Losses , or BARREL , which will measure the X - rays create when charged particles reach the death of the charismatic line down at the pole . To do this , the drum team will plunge balloons into the sky high above Antartica , where they will be able to abide by the fussy properties of the charged particle and X - ray than has been potential before . RBSP and BARREL can exploit together to perfect in on the most promising clues as to the internal working of the knock .
Millan explains some of the remarkable properities of the Van Allen belt :
“ Probably the most interesting thing to me about the radiation whang is how varying the region is . During geomagnetic violent storm , we see lodge subatomic particle accelerated to really eminent , relativistic energies , traveling near the stop number of luminance . The number of these mote can increase by a component of 1,000 in a daylight or less . We do n’t often think of Earth as being an effective particle gas like alien objects such as pitch-black holes or supernovae , but it is , and it is correct in our own backyard , so we can really study the process in detail . every bit as exciting as the particle acceleration are the rapid depletion of the irradiation bang that we observe . The entire radiotherapy belt can most disappear in the affair of a day or even less . ”
For a more elaborated account of NASA ’s plans , check outSpace.com .
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