Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. 24/7 Space News .




EARTH OBSERVATION
NJIT physicist helps to discover a new structure in Earth's radiation belt
by Staff Writers
Newark, NJ (SPX) Mar 25, 2014


File image.

An NJIT physicist is a collaborator in the discovery of a new structure in Earth's inner radiation belt -- a zebra-striped structure of highly energized electrons that could endanger humans in space and also damage low-earth navigation and communication satellites.

And surprisingly, the new structure is produced not by solar activity but by Earth's slow rotation. Scientists had previously thought Earth's rotation couldn't affect the motion of radiation belt particles. The data supporting these discoveries comes from a measuring device aboard the two NASA Van Allen Probes currently orbiting Earth.

Louis Lanzerotti, distinguished research professor of physics at NJIT, is the principal investigator for the measuring device, called the Van Allen Probes' Ion Composition Experiment (RBSPICE), which collected the data. The findings are reported in a paper co-authored by Lanzerotti for the March 20 issue of the journal Nature.

Lanzerotti and his team at NJIT's Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research collaborated on the research with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and Fundamental Technologies, Inc.

"It's always hard to predict how scientific research affects the realm of practical design," says Lanzerotti. "But these findings could have implications for those who model space weather and those who design and operate navigation and communication satellites as well as spacecraft used for national security. "

Anyone who designs these systems will need to consider the newly discovered structure of the radiation belt, adds Lanzerotti, a prominent physicist who is known in science circles for having Minor Planet 5504 named after him, as well as a mountain in the Antarctic. The minor planet is named in recognition of his space and planetary research and Mount Lanzerotti recognizes his geophysical research.

"It is amazing how Earth's space environment, including the radiation belts, continue to surprise us even after we have studied them for over 50 years," he says. "Our understanding of the complex structures of the belts, and the processes behind the belts' behaviors, continues to grow, all of which contribute to the eventual goal of providing accurate space weather modeling and helping designers to build communication systems and spacecraft that can withstand the highly energized particles in earth's radiation belt."

.


Related Links
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Earth Observation News - Suppiliers, Technology and Application






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle




Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News





EARTH OBSERVATION
NASA Completes Global Hawk ATTREX Flights For 2014
Edwards AFB CA (SPX) Mar 18, 2014
NASA's Global Hawk research aircraft returned to its base at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., early Friday morning March 14, marking the completion of flights in support of this year's Airborne Tropical Tropopause Experiment (ATTREX), a multi-year NASA airborne science campaign. On Feb. 13, the autonomously operated aircraft began conducting scienc ... read more


EARTH OBSERVATION
China's Jade Rabbit lunar rover rouses from latest slumber

Study on lunar crater counting shows crowdsourcing effective, accurate tool

Spacesuits And Moon Notes Among The Stars At Bonhams NYC Auction

Russia to launch three lunar rovers from 2016 to 2019

EARTH OBSERVATION
The Exploration of Murray Ridge Continues

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Resumes Full Duty

NASA Orbiter Safe After Unplanned Computer Swap

Mars name-a-crater scheme runs into trouble

EARTH OBSERVATION
E3-production - sustainable manufacturing

TED turns 30 with new chapter of 'ideas worth spreading'

Orion Makes Testing, Integration Strides Ahead of First Launch to Space

ORBITEC and Wisconsin Await Countdown for "VEGGIE" to Space on SpaceX 3

EARTH OBSERVATION
Tiangong's New Mission

"Space Odyssey": China's aspiration in future space exploration

China to launch first "space shuttle bus" this year

China expects to launch cargo ship into space around 2016

EARTH OBSERVATION
Russian Progress Spacecraft Boosts ISS Orbit

Japanese astronaut becomes ISS commander

Station Crew Preps for Return to Earth, Repairs Recycling System

NASA says US-Russia space ties 'normal'

EARTH OBSERVATION
Proton-M with two Russian communication satellites on board blasts off from Baikonur

ASTRA 5B delivered for integration on Ariane 5 launcher

Proton-M carrier rocket with two satellites abroad installed on Baikonur launch pad

Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services Announces Industry-Unique "Refund Or Reflight" Program

EARTH OBSERVATION
UK joins the planet hunt with Europe's PLATO mission

X-ray laser FLASH spies deep into giant gas planets

Crashing Comets Explain Surprise Gas Clump Around Young Star

Every red dwarf star has at least one planet

EARTH OBSERVATION
Pushing and pulling: Using strain to tune a new quantum material

Lightweight Construction Materials of Highest Stability Thanks to Their Microarchitecture

Oregon physicists use geometry to understand 'jamming' process

It looks like rubber but isn't




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.