5 min read<\/p>\n
NASA CubeSat Finds New Radiation Belts After May 2024 Solar Storm<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nKey Points<\/h3>\n\n- The May 2024 solar storm created two new temporary belts of high-energy particles surrounding Earth.<\/em><\/li>\n
- Such belts have been seen before, but the new ones were particularly long lasting, especially the new proton belt.\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n
- The findings are particularly important for spacecraft launching into geostationary orbits, which can be damaged as they traverse the dangerous belts.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The largest solar storm in two decades hit Earth in May 2024. For several days, wave after wave of high-energy charged particles from the Sun rocked the planet. Brilliant auroras engulfed the skies, and some GPS communications were temporarily disrupted.<\/p>\n
With the help of a serendipitously resurrected small NASA satellite, scientists have discovered that this storm also created two new temporary belts of energetic particles encircling Earth. The findings are important to understanding how future solar storms could impact our technology.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The new belts formed between two others that permanently surround Earth called the Van Allen Belts. Shaped like concentric rings high above Earth\u2019s equator, these permanent belts are composed of a mix of high-energy electrons and protons that are trapped in place by Earth\u2019s magnetic field. The energetic particles in these belts can damage spacecraft and imperil astronauts who pass through them, so understanding their dynamics is key to safe spaceflight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"In](\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/hpd\/itm\/van_allen_probes_discov_new_rad_belt_cal.jpg?w=1280&h=1006&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nThe May 2024 solar storm created two extra radiation belts, sandwiched between the two permanent Van Allen Belts. One of the new belts, shown in purple, included a population of protons, giving it a unique composition that hadn\u2019t been seen before.<\/div>\nNASA\/Goddard Space Flight Center\/Kristen Perrin<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe discovery of the new belts, made possible by NASA\u2019s Colorado Inner Radiation Belt Experiment (CIRBE) satellite and published Feb. 6, 2025, in the\u00a0Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics<\/a>, is particularly important for protecting spacecraft launching into geostationary orbits, since they travel through the Van Allen Belts several times before reaching their final orbit.<\/p>\nNew Belts Amaze Scientists<\/h3>\n
Temporary belts have been detected in the aftermath of large solar storms before. But while previous belts have been composed mostly of electrons, the innermost of the two new belts also included energetic protons. This unique composition is likely due to the strength and composition of the solar storm.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we compared the data from before and after the storm, I said, \u2018Wow, this is something really new,\u2019\u201d said the paper\u2019s lead author Xinlin Li, a professor at\u00a0the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) and Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at\u00a0<\/em>the University of Colorado Boulder. \u201cThis is really stunning.\u201d<\/p>\nThe new belts also seem to have lasted much longer than previous belts. Whereas previous temporary belts lasted around four weeks, the new belt composed primary of electrons lasted more than three months. The other belt, that also includes protons, has lasted much longer than the electron belt because it is in a more stable region and is less prone to the physical processes that can knock the particles out of orbit. It is likely still there today.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are really high-energy electrons and protons that have found their way into Earth\u2019s inner magnetic environment,\u201d said David Sibeck, former mission scientist for NASA\u2019s\u00a0Van Allen Probes<\/a>\u00a0and research scientist at NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, who was not involved with the new study. \u201cSome might stay in this place for a very long time.\u201d<\/p>\nHow long such belts stick around depends on passing solar storms. Large storms can provide the energy to knock particles in these belts out of their orbits and send them spiraling off into space or down to Earth. One such storm at the end of June significantly decreased the size of the new electron belt and another in August nearly erased the remainder of that electron belt, though a small population of high-energy electrons endured.<\/p>\n
CubeSat Fortuitously Comes Back to Life to Make the Discovery<\/h3>\n
The new discovery was made by NASA\u2019s CIRBE satellite, a CubeSat about the size of a shoebox that circled the planet\u2019s magnetic poles in a low Earth orbit from April 2023 to October 2024. CIRBE housed an instrument called the Relativistic Electron Proton Telescope integrated little experiment-2 (REPTile-2) \u2014 a miniaturized and upgraded version of an instrument that flew aboard NASA\u2019s\u00a0Van Allen Probes<\/a>, which made the first discovery of a temporary electron belt in 2013.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/cirbe\/CIRBE.jpg?w=920&h=766&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nThe CIRBE CubeSat in the laboratory before launch. CIRBE was designed and built by LASP at the University of Colorado Boulder.<\/div>\nXinlin Li\/LASP\/CU Boulder<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAfter a year in space, the CubeSat experienced an anomaly and unexpectedly went quiet on April 15, 2024. The scientists were disappointed to miss the solar storm in May<\/a> but were able to rely on other spacecraft to provide some preliminary data on the electron belt. Luckily, on June 15, the spacecraft sprang back to life and resumed taking measurements. The data provided high-resolution information that couldn\u2019t be gleaned by any other instrument and allowed the scientists to understand the magnitude of the new belts.<\/p>\n\u201cOnce we resumed measurements, we were able to see the new electron belt, which wasn\u2019t visible in the data from other spacecraft,\u201d Li said.<\/p>\n
Having the CubeSat in orbit to measure the effect of the solar storm has been bittersweet, Li said. While it provided the opportunity to measure the effects of such a large event, the storm also increased atmospheric drag on the CubeSat, which caused its orbit to decrease prematurely. As a result, the CubeSat deorbited in October 2024. However, the spacecraft\u2019s data makes it all worth it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are very proud that our very small CubeSat made such a discovery,\u201d Li said.<\/p>\n
CIRBE was designed and built by LASP at the University of Colorado Boulder and was launched through NASA\u2019s CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI). The mission is sponsored by NASA\u2019s Heliophysics Flight Opportunities for Research & Technology (H-FORT) program.<\/p>\n
By\u00a0<\/strong>Mara Johnson-Groh<\/strong><\/a>
NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\nShare<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
- \n
- The May 2024 solar storm created two new temporary belts of high-energy particles surrounding Earth.<\/em><\/li>\n
- Such belts have been seen before, but the new ones were particularly long lasting, especially the new proton belt.\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n
- The findings are particularly important for spacecraft launching into geostationary orbits, which can be damaged as they traverse the dangerous belts.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The largest solar storm in two decades hit Earth in May 2024. For several days, wave after wave of high-energy charged particles from the Sun rocked the planet. Brilliant auroras engulfed the skies, and some GPS communications were temporarily disrupted.<\/p>\n
With the help of a serendipitously resurrected small NASA satellite, scientists have discovered that this storm also created two new temporary belts of energetic particles encircling Earth. The findings are important to understanding how future solar storms could impact our technology.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The new belts formed between two others that permanently surround Earth called the Van Allen Belts. Shaped like concentric rings high above Earth\u2019s equator, these permanent belts are composed of a mix of high-energy electrons and protons that are trapped in place by Earth\u2019s magnetic field. The energetic particles in these belts can damage spacecraft and imperil astronauts who pass through them, so understanding their dynamics is key to safe spaceflight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n The May 2024 solar storm created two extra radiation belts, sandwiched between the two permanent Van Allen Belts. One of the new belts, shown in purple, included a population of protons, giving it a unique composition that hadn\u2019t been seen before.<\/div>\nNASA\/Goddard Space Flight Center\/Kristen Perrin<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe discovery of the new belts, made possible by NASA\u2019s Colorado Inner Radiation Belt Experiment (CIRBE) satellite and published Feb. 6, 2025, in the\u00a0Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics<\/a>, is particularly important for protecting spacecraft launching into geostationary orbits, since they travel through the Van Allen Belts several times before reaching their final orbit.<\/p>\n
New Belts Amaze Scientists<\/h3>\n
Temporary belts have been detected in the aftermath of large solar storms before. But while previous belts have been composed mostly of electrons, the innermost of the two new belts also included energetic protons. This unique composition is likely due to the strength and composition of the solar storm.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we compared the data from before and after the storm, I said, \u2018Wow, this is something really new,\u2019\u201d said the paper\u2019s lead author Xinlin Li, a professor at\u00a0the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) and Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at\u00a0<\/em>the University of Colorado Boulder. \u201cThis is really stunning.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new belts also seem to have lasted much longer than previous belts. Whereas previous temporary belts lasted around four weeks, the new belt composed primary of electrons lasted more than three months. The other belt, that also includes protons, has lasted much longer than the electron belt because it is in a more stable region and is less prone to the physical processes that can knock the particles out of orbit. It is likely still there today.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are really high-energy electrons and protons that have found their way into Earth\u2019s inner magnetic environment,\u201d said David Sibeck, former mission scientist for NASA\u2019s\u00a0Van Allen Probes<\/a>\u00a0and research scientist at NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, who was not involved with the new study. \u201cSome might stay in this place for a very long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
How long such belts stick around depends on passing solar storms. Large storms can provide the energy to knock particles in these belts out of their orbits and send them spiraling off into space or down to Earth. One such storm at the end of June significantly decreased the size of the new electron belt and another in August nearly erased the remainder of that electron belt, though a small population of high-energy electrons endured.<\/p>\n
CubeSat Fortuitously Comes Back to Life to Make the Discovery<\/h3>\n
The new discovery was made by NASA\u2019s CIRBE satellite, a CubeSat about the size of a shoebox that circled the planet\u2019s magnetic poles in a low Earth orbit from April 2023 to October 2024. CIRBE housed an instrument called the Relativistic Electron Proton Telescope integrated little experiment-2 (REPTile-2) \u2014 a miniaturized and upgraded version of an instrument that flew aboard NASA\u2019s\u00a0Van Allen Probes<\/a>, which made the first discovery of a temporary electron belt in 2013.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n The CIRBE CubeSat in the laboratory before launch. CIRBE was designed and built by LASP at the University of Colorado Boulder.<\/div>\nXinlin Li\/LASP\/CU Boulder<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAfter a year in space, the CubeSat experienced an anomaly and unexpectedly went quiet on April 15, 2024. The scientists were disappointed to miss the solar storm in May<\/a> but were able to rely on other spacecraft to provide some preliminary data on the electron belt. Luckily, on June 15, the spacecraft sprang back to life and resumed taking measurements. The data provided high-resolution information that couldn\u2019t be gleaned by any other instrument and allowed the scientists to understand the magnitude of the new belts.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce we resumed measurements, we were able to see the new electron belt, which wasn\u2019t visible in the data from other spacecraft,\u201d Li said.<\/p>\n
Having the CubeSat in orbit to measure the effect of the solar storm has been bittersweet, Li said. While it provided the opportunity to measure the effects of such a large event, the storm also increased atmospheric drag on the CubeSat, which caused its orbit to decrease prematurely. As a result, the CubeSat deorbited in October 2024. However, the spacecraft\u2019s data makes it all worth it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are very proud that our very small CubeSat made such a discovery,\u201d Li said.<\/p>\n
CIRBE was designed and built by LASP at the University of Colorado Boulder and was launched through NASA\u2019s CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI). The mission is sponsored by NASA\u2019s Heliophysics Flight Opportunities for Research & Technology (H-FORT) program.<\/p>\n
By\u00a0<\/strong>Mara Johnson-Groh<\/strong><\/a>
NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n \n\n\n\nShare<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
\n - Such belts have been seen before, but the new ones were particularly long lasting, especially the new proton belt.\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n