Like magnetic traps, Earth’s radiation belts — also known as the Van Allen Belts, after their discoverer James Van Allen — capture relativistic particles that have been driven to high energies. But occasionally, something shakes them loose so they fall spiraling into Earth’s atmosphere, sometimes in short, 100-millisecond microbursts, other times in waves that can last minutes to hours. Scientists suspect certain types of plasma waves are responsible for the fallouts, and REAL will help find out for sure.
“REAL’s successful launch and entry into orbit are direct results of the hard work, ingenuity and unwavering commitment of a resourceful team to develop a mission that will solve enduring mysteries about Earth’s radiation belts,” said Bobby Braun, head of the Space Exploration Sector at APL. “In coordination with Dartmouth and Montana State University, APL has again demonstrated the exceptional accomplishments that come through collaborating with other organizations to develop groundbreaking capabilities and technologies.”
Key to achieving the mission’s scientific goal is its novel, miniaturized energetic particle detection instrument, also called REAL, that makes up nearly half of the spacecraft. As the CubeSat flies in low Earth orbit, it will point this particle detector along Earth’s magnetic field to watch as energetic electrons and protons enter the atmosphere. From there, it can simultaneously measure the quantity, energy and angle of the particles as they fall into the atmosphere — a first-of-its-kind capability — making it possible for scientists to identify the forces that shook those particles free in the first place. This novel capability is already enabling future mission concepts and technologies that will help us better understand and protect our nation’s critical space infrastructure from the hazardous space environment.
“REAL is taking a closer look at the microscopic interactions that have big impacts on the Van Allen Belts,” said APL physicist Thomas Sotirelis, instrument scientist for the REAL particle detector and originator of the instrument concept. “By focusing on those tiny details, we’re going to gain a deeper understanding of Earth’s radiation belts that will help us protect infrastructure now and in the future.”
The REAL CubeSat mission is led by Dartmouth College in collaboration with APL, Montana State University and Boston University. Funding for REAL is provided through NASA’s Low-Cost Access to Space program. REAL was sent to space through NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative.
