1,300-pound NASA satellite set to crash down to Earth today after 14 years in space

March 10, 2026

TL;DR

NASA's 1,300-pound Van Allen Probe A is set to re-enter Earth's atmosphere today.
The probe was launched in August 2012 and its mission was to explore Earth's radiation belts.
Most of the probe is expected to burn up on re-entry, with a low risk of harm to people on Earth.
The mission lasted nearly seven years, exceeding its planned two-year duration and setting records for functioning in the radiation belts.
The probes discovered evidence of a third radiation belt that can form during intense solar activity.
Increased atmospheric drag due to the current active solar cycle has caused the probe to re-enter faster than initially predicted.

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