New Radiation Belts Born After May Storm: Unseen Earth Hazards

Image from NASA

Two New Temporary Radiation Belts

Following the severe May 2024 solar storm, a NASA CubeSat mission (CIRBE) discovered that two new temporary radiation belts were formed between Earth's usual Van Allen belts.

The belts trapped high-energy particles, like protons in the innermost new belt: a configuration not happening often previously.

The belts persisted longer than predicted, raising concerns for satellites that pass through those regions during orbit insertion or transit.

Consequences for Spacecraft and Models

Controllers must consider now that to go along with the classic belts, temporary belts appear during strong solar events, providing additional radiation danger. This affects design margins, shielding, and orbital scheduling.

Models of magnetospheric dynamics will need to incorporate mechanisms by which storms deliver and trap particles in new areas. The discovery expands our understanding of how solar storms reorganize near-Earth space.

For missions in the future, this discovery has the implication that planning missions cannot depend on fixed maps of radiation belts. They might have to rely on dynamic tracking, adjustable routes, and contingency planning should new belts develop.