NASA Alerts for Out-of-Control Van Allen Probe A Reentry on March 10, 2026
NASA has confirmed that the Van Allen Probe A satellite will lose control and reenter Earth's atmosphere on March 10, 2026. Weighing approximately 600 kg, the risk to the population is deemed low. Launched in August 2012, the mission studied the Van Allen radiation belts and officially ended in 2019. Its reentry was originally estimated for 2034 but was accelerated due to increased solar activity. The U.S. Space Force estimates reentry at around 7:45 PM EDT with a 24-hour uncertainty margin.
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NASA has confirmed that the Van Allen Probe A satellite will reenter Earth's atmosphere on March 10, 2026, due to losing its orbital control. Originally launched in August 2012, the satellite was part of a mission to study the Van Allen radiation belts, which concluded in 2019.
The U.S. Space Force estimates the reentry at 7:45 PM EDT, with a margin of ±24 hours. Increased solar activity has accelerated the satellite's descent, moving the reentry date forward by nearly a decade.
The probability of damage from falling fragments is approximately 1 in 4,200. Most debris is expected to burn up upon reentry, and if any survives, it is likely to land in unpopulated areas or the ocean.
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