Satellite Programs & Technology   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Exploration & Science Missions   Commercial Space Industry (New Space)   Space Debris & Traffic Management   NASA  

NASA's Van Allen Probe A to make uncontrolled reentry March 10 after nearly 14 years

NASA's 600 kg (1,323 lb) Van Allen Probe A is expected to make an uncontrolled reentry on March 10 after almost 14 years in orbit. Launched in 2012 as part of a twin mission to study Earth's radiation belts, the spacecraft carries an estimated 1-in-4,200 chance of causing harm on the ground.

Discovered 2026-03-09T13:13:21.963557-07:00 | 2026-03-09T13:13:21.963557-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • The reentry is uncontrolled and involves a 600 kg spacecraft with an estimated 1-in-4,200 probability of causing ground harm; uncontrolled returns also deposit material and metals into the upper atmosphere — see recent measurements linking a Falcon 9 upper-stage reentry to a lithium plume (source:2effb3f9-b124-4657-8a3d-a84587fb366e).
  • The Van Allen probes provided long-term data on Earth’s radiation belts; loss of this asset reduces continuity for space-weather models and operational risk assessments, a gap agencies are addressing with targeted measurement campaigns (see NASA rocket campaigns to study auroral and radiation phenomena) (source:7c9dfb9d-8d94-4d22-bee1-c18ba7d9c37d).

Reported By

CBS News orbitaltoday.com news.ssbcrack.com interestingengineering.com CNET New York Times
Sources Tracked
22
First Seen
2026-03-09T13:13:21.963557-07:00
Latest Update
2026-03-11T06:18:24.158607-07:00
Coverage
Space

Sources

Hype groups these reports into one evolving story so you can compare coverage without losing the thread.

Related Coverage