Libration Point Satellite (1962)

James Van Allen discovered the two Earth-circling radiation belts that bear his name in 1958. The discovery, based on data from Explorer 1 (the first U.S. satellite), Explorer 3, and Pioneer 3, was the first fundamentally new find of the space age. In addition to its scientific importance, it constituted a prestige victory in the [...]

Image: NASA.
James Van Allen discovered the two Earth-circling radiation belts that bear his name in 1958. The discovery, based on data from Explorer 1 (the first U.S. satellite), Explorer 3, and Pioneer 3, was the first fundamentally new find of the space age. In addition to its scientific importance, it constituted a prestige victory in the Cold War space race with the Soviet Union. Time magazine put Van Allen on the cover of its May 4, 1959 issue.
The Van Allen Belts are a feature of Earth’s magnetosphere. Though fascinating in its own right, the magnetosphere became a source of frustration for scientists eager to study the Sun. This is because Earth’s magnetic envelope blocks solar particles, preventing comprehensive study of flares and other solar phenomena.
Physicist James Van Allen (center) holds aloft the backup Explorer 1 satellite with Jet Propulsion Laboratory director ...