Trending Now - Defunct NASA Satellite to Plummet to Earth on March 10

WHO:

NASA officials stated, "NASA expects most of the spacecraft to burn up as it travels through the atmosphere, but some components are expected to survive reentry."

The U.S. Space Force predicted that the satellite will reenter Earth's atmosphere on March 10th, 2026, at 7:45 p.m. EDT (2345 GMT), plus or minus 24 hours.

NASA

U.S. Space Force

Van Allen Probe A

Van Allen Probe B

WHAT:

The Van Allen Probe A is estimated to weigh approximately 1,323 pounds (600 kilograms).

The risk of harm to anyone on Earth is approximately 0.02%, calculated as 1 in 4,200.

An analysis by mission specialists found the probes would likely re-enter Earth's atmosphere in 2034, but the current active solar cycle has triggered intense space weather events and increased atmospheric drag on the spacecraft, pulling them in faster than expected.

The Van Allen Probe A weighs approximately 1,323 pounds (600 kilograms).

NASA officials stated, "NASA expects most of the spacecraft to burn up as it travels through the atmosphere, but some components are expected to survive reentry."

The risk of harm to anyone on Earth is approximately 0.02%, calculated as 1 in 4,200.

The probes were originally called the Radiation Belt Storm Probes.

The mission ended in 2019 when Probe A ran out of fuel in October 2019, while Probe B ran out of fuel in July 2019.

The Space Force's estimated reentry time is subject to updates as more data becomes available.

A 1,300-pound (600-kilogram) NASA probe, Van Allen Probe A, is set to re-enter Earth's atmosphere.

The expected re-entry time is March 10th, 2026, at 7:45 p.m. EDT (2345 GMT), with a 24-hour margin of uncertainty.

There is a 1 in 4,200 chance of anyone on Earth being harmed by the re-entry.

The mission of the Van Allen probes was originally intended to last two years but extended to nearly seven years.

The probes made discoveries including the existence of a third radiation belt during intense solar activity.

WHERE:

Earth's atmosphere

The Van Allen belts, which are regions around Earth

WHEN:

The Van Allen probes were launched on August 30th, 2012.

Launched in August 2012

Mission ended in 2019

Current re-entry date is March 10th, 2026

Probe B is not expected to re-enter until the 2030s.

WHY:

The current active solar cycle has caused increased atmospheric drag on the spacecraft, leading to an earlier reentry than initially predicted.

The mission aimed to explore Earth's radiation belts and understand how particles within them are gained and lost.

The current active solar cycle has triggered intense space weather events, increasing atmospheric drag on the spacecraft.

HOW:

The Van Allen Probes were the first that were meant to spend a significant amount of time in the radiation belts, breaking records for spacecraft operation in that region.

The Van Allen Probes were designed to spend a significant amount of time in the radiation belts, breaking records for spacecraft operation in that region.

The probes were launched to a highly elliptical orbit, reaching distances of up to 18,900 miles (30,415 kilometers) from Earth and as close as 384 miles (618 kilometers).

Data collected from the probes is used to study the radiation belts and improve forecasts of space weather events.

(UPDATED March 10, 2026 23:04 UTC)

NASA officials announced that the Van Allen Probe A, which weighs about 1,323 pounds, is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere today at 7:45 p.m. EDT, though most of the spacecraft will likely burn up during reentry. The U.S. Space Force has assessed the risk of harm to anyone on Earth at approximately 0.02%, or 1 in 4,200, due to the current active solar cycle causing increased atmospheric drag, pulling the probes in faster than anticipated. Launched on August 30, 2012, the Van Allen Probes were designed to operate in the radiation belts, setting records for their time spent in that challenging environment.

(UPDATED March 10, 2026 19:19 UTC)

NASA has announced that the Van Allen Probe A, which weighs about 1,323 pounds, is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere sooner than anticipated due to increased atmospheric drag from the current solar cycle. While most of the spacecraft is likely to burn up during reentry, some components may survive, and the risk of harm to anyone on Earth is estimated at just 0.02 percent, or about 1 in 4,200. The mission, which originally aimed to study the radiation belts, ended in 2019 when Probe A ran out of fuel, and updates on the reentry timeline will be provided by the Space Force as more information becomes available.

(UPDATED March 10, 2026 17:18 UTC)

NASA has announced that the Van Allen Probe A, a 1,300-pound spacecraft, is set to re-enter Earth's atmosphere today at 7:45 p.m. EDT, with a 24-hour margin of uncertainty. Launched in August 2012 and originally intended for a two-year mission, the probes have provided valuable insights into Earth's radiation belts, including the discovery of a third radiation belt during intense solar activity, and there is a 1 in 4,200 chance of anyone being harmed by the re-entry. While Probe A's mission concluded in 2019, Probe B is not expected to re-enter until the 2030s.