New Van Allen radiation belt formed after powerful solar storms in May 2024

NASA scientists have discovered a transient third Van Allen radiation band encircling Earth, created by powerful solar storms in May 2024.

• A powerful solar storm on May 10 – 11, 2024 caused the development of a new Van Allen radiation belt between the existing inner and outer belts.
• This discovery shows the active nature of the Earth’s magnetosphere and has significant implications for prospective space missions, particularly NASA’s Artemis 2 mission, which is scheduled to launch in September 2025.

Normally, Earth is encircled by two stable belts of charged particles, but powerful solar storms in May 2024 have created a third, transient band to this protective barrier.

This newly developed band, located between the existing inner and outer belts, is made up of high-energy particles and is likely to remain for months or even years, depending on current solar and space weather conditions.

The new radiation belt was discovered by researchers at the Colorado Internal Radiation Belt Investigation (CIRBE) CubeSat project and announced on July 31.

The Van Allen belts are found in Earth’s magnetosphere, with the inner belt spanning from around 1 600 to 12 800 km (1 000 to 8 000 miles) above the planet’s surface and the outer band ranging from 19 300 to 40 200 km (12 000 to 25 000 miles) above. The new, temporary belt sits between these two existing belts. NASA scientists and other experts who monitor space weather validated the discovery.

The third Van Allen belt formed as a result of powerful solar storms in May 2024, which included multiple Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs). It was the strongest geomagnetic storm in 20 years. Learn more about it here:

This discovery has significant ramifications for future space missions, particularly NASA’s Artemis 2 mission, which is scheduled for September 2025.

This mission will transport a four-person crew to the Moon, passing via the Van Allen belts, including the new temporary belt if it persists. NASA is actively monitoring radiation levels, and the mission is expected to proceed safely, with precautions in place to safeguard the crew from radioactive exposure.

References:

¹ Two New Radiation Belts – CIBRE – July 31, 2024

Harsha Borah

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