Van Allen Belt
Van Allen Belt is a region of intense radiation surrounding the Earth, extending from an altitude of about 500 to 58,000 km. It is named after James Van Allen, who discovered it in 1958 using data obtained by the Explorer 1 satellite. The Van Allen Belt is composed of two distinct regions: the inner belt, which is made up of high-energy protons, and the outer belt, which is composed of high-energy electrons. The radiation in the Van Allen Belt is a result of the interaction between the Earth's magnetic field and charged particles from the solar wind. The Van Allen Belt poses a significant hazard to spacecraft and astronauts, as exposure to the high levels of radiation can cause damage to electronic equipment and harm living organisms.
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