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A 1,300-pound Nasa spacecraft to re-enter Earth's atmosphere - BBC

Much of the Van Allen Probe is expected to burn up in the atmosphere though Nasa says there is "low" risk of people being struck by surviving components.

ScienceBy Dr. Thomas WrightMarch 10, 20262 min read

Last updated: April 1, 2026, 8:16 AM

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A 1,300-pound Nasa spacecraft to re-enter Earth's atmosphere - BBC

A Van Allen Probe spacecraft weighing more than 1,300lb (600kg) is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere almost 14 years after its launch, Nasa says.

The spacecraft is projected to re-enter around 19:45 EDT (23:45 GMT) on Tuesday the US Space Force predicted, according to Nasa, though there is a 24-hour margin of "uncertainty" in the timing.

The Van Allen Probe A, which launched in 2012, is expected mostly to burn up as it travels through the atmosphere, though some components may survive.

The space agency said there is a one in 4,200 chance of being harmed by a piece of the probe, which it characterised as "low" risk.

The spacecraft and its twin, Van Allen Probe B, were on a mission to gather unprecedented data on Earth's two permanent radiation belts.

It was not immediately clear where in Earth's atmosphere the satellite is projected to re-enter. The BBC has contacted Nasa for further detail.

Nasa and the US Space Force have said they will monitor the re-entry and update any predictions.

The mission, which was originally designed to last two years, went on for almost seven. It ended after the spacecrafts ran out of fuel and were no longer able to orient themselves toward the Sun.

The probes flew through rings of charged particles trapped by Earth's magnetic field from 2012 to 2019, in order to study how particles were gained and lost, per Nasa.

Those rings, called the Van Allen belts, shield Earth from cosmic radiation, solar storms and streaming solar wind, which are harmful to humans and can damage technology.

The mission made significant discoveries, including the first data that show the existence of a transient third radiation belt, which can form during times of intense solar activity, Nasa said.

Van Allen Probe B is not expected to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere before 2030.

DT
Dr. Thomas Wright

Science Editor

Dr. Thomas Wright is a science writer covering space exploration, physics, and environmental research. He holds a Ph.D. in Astrophysics from MIT and transitioned to science journalism to make complex research accessible to the public. His coverage of NASA missions and climate science has earned multiple awards.

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