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James A. Van Allen - Dies at 91

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the ironically-wore-suspenders dept.

Diamonddavej writes "The New York Times reports that the respected astrophysicist, James A. Van Allen, died yesterday at the age of 91. Apparently the fellow regularly worked at his office/laboratory up until a month ago. Prof. Van Allen team designed the Geiger counter that flew aboard Americas first orbiting satellite, Explorer 1. It detected unexpectedly intense levels of radiation caused by energetic particles trapped in the Earth magnetic field, the magnetosphere. The belts of radiation were mapped and characterised by later missions and were named the Van Allen belts in honour of their discoverer."

4 of 94 comments (clear)

  1. wait a sec... by grub · · Score: 4, Funny


    ... has Netcraft confirmed this?

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    Trolling is a art,
  2. Good week for conspiracy theorists. by Lord+Kano · · Score: 5, Funny

    NASA looses the tapes of the moon landing and Mr. Van Allen passes away. If I remember correctly the Van Allen belts figure prominently in several anti-moon landing conspiracy theories.

    Gentlemen, let the speculation begin!

    LK

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    "Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
    1. Re:Good week for conspiracy theorists. by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 4, Funny

      The classic...

      Van Allan Belts ... God's Electric Fence

  3. Re:Man-Made Equivalent by Farmer+Tim · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sounds more like the threat of a Bond villain than an action of the United States government.

    An increasingly difficult distinction to make...

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