Planet Earth

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator offloads NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, from a flatbed truck at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida where Applied Physics Laboratory technicians will begin spacecraft testing and prelaunch preparations.  The twin RBSP spacecraft arrived at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility in the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft earlier in the day.          The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2638

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator offloads NASA's Radiation B...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator offloads NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, from a flatbed truck at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’... More

Simulated Van Allen Belts Generated by Plasma Thruster in Tank 5

Simulated Van Allen Belts Generated by Plasma Thruster in Tank 5

The model of the Earth housed inside Vacuum Tank 5 contained a coil which produced a magnetic field simulating that of the Earth. It was bombarded with a stream of ionized particles simulating the solar wind wh... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -   At NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the massive crawler-transporter carrying space shuttle Endeavour approaches the launch pad.  First motion of Endeavour from the Vehicle Assembly Building was at 11:15 p.m. Sept. 18.  The crawler travels on eight tracked tread belts, each containing 57 tread belt “shoes.” Each shoe is 7.5 feet long, 1.5 feet wide and weighs approximately 2,100 pounds. Endeavour completed the 4.2-mile journey to Launch Pad 39B on Sept. 19 at 6:59 a.m. EDT. For the first time since July 2001, two shuttles are on the launch pads at the same time at the center. Endeavour will stand by at pad B in the unlikely event that a rescue mission is necessary during space shuttle Atlantis' upcoming mission to repair NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, targeted to launch Oct. 10. After Endeavour is cleared from its duty as a rescue spacecraft, it will be moved to Launch Pad 39A for the STS-126 mission to the International Space Station. That flight is targeted for launch Nov. 12. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-08pd2668

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - At NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the massive c...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - At NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the massive crawler-transporter carrying space shuttle Endeavour approaches the launch pad. First motion of Endeavour from the Vehicle Assembly Building... More

Range : 7 million kilometers (4.3 million miles) Io is Jupiter's innermost of the four Galilean satellites.  Photo taken at 2:00 AM through an ultraviolet filter. The photo's background is part of Jupiter's disk.  North is at the top and the central longitude of Io is 180 degrees.  Io shows a contrasting surface with dark polar areas and many light and dark regions around the equator.  This resolution of about 100 miles/160 kilometers, no topographic features, like craters, can be seen.  The brighter regions may be areas containing sulfur and various salts, making Io very reflective(six times brighter thanb Earth's Moon).  Io is about the same size and density as our Moon, but has followed a different evolutionary path, influenced by its closeness to Jupiter and the intense bombardment it receives from the Jovian radiation belts of energetic charged particles. ARC-1979-A79-7022

Range : 7 million kilometers (4.3 million miles) Io is Jupiter's inner...

Range : 7 million kilometers (4.3 million miles) Io is Jupiter's innermost of the four Galilean satellites. Photo taken at 2:00 AM through an ultraviolet filter. The photo's background is part of Jupiter's dis... More

P-34679 Range :  2 million km. ( 1.2 million miles ) In this Voyager 2, wide-angle image, the two main rings of Neptune can be clearly seen. In the lower part of the frame, the originally-announced ring arc, consisting of three distinct features, is visible. This feature covers about 35 degrees of longitude and has yet to be radially resolved in Voyager Images. from higher resolution images it is known that this region contains much more material than the diffuse belts seen elsewhere in its orbit, which seem to encircle the planet. This is consistent with the fact that ground-based observations of stellar occultations by the rings show them to be very broken and clumpy. The more sensitive, wide-angle camera is revealing more widely distributed but fainter material. Each of these rings of material lies just outside of the orbit of a newly discovered moon. One of these moons, 1989N2, may be seen in the upper right corner. The moon is streaked by its orbital motion, whereas the stars in the frame are less smeared. the dark area around the bright moon and star are artifacts of the processing required to bring out the faint rings. ARC-1989-A89-7024

P-34679 Range : 2 million km. ( 1.2 million miles ) In this Voyager 2...

P-34679 Range : 2 million km. ( 1.2 million miles ) In this Voyager 2, wide-angle image, the two main rings of Neptune can be clearly seen. In the lower part of the frame, the originally-announced ring arc, co... More

P-34692 Range :  500 km. ( 300 miles ) Smallest Resolvable Feature :  900 m. or 2,700 ft. Part of Triton's complex geological history canbe seen in this image, shot by Voyager 2. Part of a sequence,  it shows a surface dominated by many roughly circular, polygonal, and arcuate features between 30 and 50 km (18 and 30 miles ) across. Some resemble degraded impact craters of Mars, while others resemble the 'palimpsest' features of Jupiter's satellite Ganymede. Peculiar intersecting, double ridged lines are 15 to 20 km. or 9 to 12 miles wide and hundreds of kilometers long.  Theyresemble some deformational belts of Ganymede. Patches of plainsforming material tend to occur in local depressions. The geologic features of Triton and spectroscopic information indicates that the surface  of Triton is underlain by a mixture of ices. ARC-1989-A89-7030

P-34692 Range : 500 km. ( 300 miles ) Smallest Resolvable Feature : ...

P-34692 Range : 500 km. ( 300 miles ) Smallest Resolvable Feature : 900 m. or 2,700 ft. Part of Triton's complex geological history canbe seen in this image, shot by Voyager 2. Part of a sequence, it shows a... More

NASA employee utilizes Virtual Reality (VR) equipment

NASA employee utilizes Virtual Reality (VR) equipment

S91-50404 (1 Nov 1991) --- Bebe Ly of the Information Systems Directorate's (ISD) Software Technology Branch at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) gives virtual reality a try. The stereo video goggles and head[pho... More

This is a composite photo, assembled from separate images of Jupiter and Comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 as imaged by the Wide Field & Planetary Camera-2 (WFPC-2), aboard NASA's Hubble Space Telescope (HST).  Jupiter was imaged on May 18, 1994, when the giant planet was at a distance of 420 million miles (670 million KM) from Earth. This 'true-color' picture was assembled from separate HST exposures in red, blue, and green light. Jupiter's rotation between exposures creates the blue and red fringe on either side of the disk. HST can resolve details in Jpiter's magnifient cloud belts and zones as small as 200 miles (320 km) across (wide field mode). This detailed view is only surpassed by images from spacecraft that have traveled to Jupiter.   The dark spot on the disk of Jupiter is the shadow of the inner moon Io. This volcanic moon appears as an orange and yellow disk just to the upper right of the shadow. Though Io is approximately the size of Earth's Moon (but 2,000 times farther away), HST can resolve surface details.  When the comet was observed on May 17, its train of 21 icy fragments stretched across 710 thousand miles (1.1 million km) of space, or 3 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. This required six WFPC exposures along the comet train to include all the nuclei. The image was taken in red light.  The apparent angular size of Jupiter relative to the comet, and its angular separation from the comet when the images were taken, have been modified for illustration purposes.  CREDIT: H.A. Weaver, T.E. Smith (Space Telescope Science Institute (STSI)) and J.T. Tranuger, R.W. Evans (Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)) and NASA. (HST ref: STSci-PR94-26a) ARC-1994-AC94-0353-1

This is a composite photo, assembled from separate images of Jupiter a...

This is a composite photo, assembled from separate images of Jupiter and Comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 as imaged by the Wide Field & Planetary Camera-2 (WFPC-2), aboard NASA's Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Jupiter ... More

Lavinia Region Ridge Belts, Plains and Lava Flows

Lavinia Region Ridge Belts, Plains and Lava Flows

This is a full resolution radar mosaic of the Lavinia region of Venus as seen by NASA Magellan spacecraft. This area shows a diverse set of geologic features. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00087 NASA/JPL

STS044-14-012 - STS-044 - STS-44 Pilot Henricks poses on OV-104's middeck wearing a tool belt

STS044-14-012 - STS-044 - STS-44 Pilot Henricks poses on OV-104's midd...

The original finding aid described this as: Description: STS-44 Pilot Terence T. Henricks, wearing a tool belt, poses on the middeck of Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104. Subject Terms: STS-44, ATLANTIS (ORB... More

STS044-14-011 - STS-044 - Closeup of a tool belt worn by Pilot Henricks on OV-104's middeck

STS044-14-011 - STS-044 - Closeup of a tool belt worn by Pilot Henrick...

The original finding aid described this as: Description: A closeup of a tool belt worn by Pilot Terence T. Henricks on the middeck of Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104 during the STS-44 mission. Subject Term... More

Inner Radiation Belts of Jupiter

Inner Radiation Belts of Jupiter

Inner Radiation Belts of Jupiter NASA/JPL

Feathery Belts and Zones - NASA Saturn images

Feathery Belts and Zones - NASA Saturn images

Feathery Belts and Zones NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -   During space shuttle Endeavour’s rollout to the launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker checks equipment on the tracks of the massive crawler-transporter.  The crawler travels on eight tracked tread belts, each containing 57 tread belt “shoes.” Each shoe is 7.5 feet long, 1.5 feet wide and weighs approximately 2,100 pounds. First motion of Endeavour from the Vehicle Assembly Building was at 11:15 p.m. Sept. 18. Endeavour completed the 4.2-mile journey to Launch Pad 39B on Sept. 19 at 6:59 a.m. EDT. For the first time since July 2001, two shuttles are on the launch pads at the same time at the center. Endeavour will stand by at pad B in the unlikely event that a rescue mission is necessary during space shuttle Atlantis' upcoming mission to repair NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, targeted to launch Oct. 10. After Endeavour is cleared from its duty as a rescue spacecraft, it will be moved to Launch Pad 39A for the STS-126 mission to the International Space Station. That flight is targeted for launch Nov. 12. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-08pd2667

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - During space shuttle Endeavour’s rollout to t...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - During space shuttle Endeavour’s rollout to the launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker checks equipment on the tracks of the massive crawler-transporter. The crawler trave... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes, enclosed in protective shipping containers, have been secured on a flatbed truck at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  The spacecraft will be transported to the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center where Applied Physics Laboratory technicians will begin spacecraft testing and prelaunch preparations. The spacecraft arrived at Kennedy in the cargo bay of the U.S. Air Force C-17 airplane at right.            The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2632

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes, enclos...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes, enclosed in protective shipping containers, have been secured on a flatbed truck at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers position NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, onto a flatbed truck at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  The twin RBSP spacecraft will be transported to the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center where Applied Physics Laboratory technicians will begin spacecraft testing and prelaunch preparations. Nitrogen will be pumped into the canisters during transport to provide the proper environmental control for the spacecraft.            The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2630

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers position NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Pr...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers position NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, onto a flatbed truck at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in F... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft touches down at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Aboard are NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes.            The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2614

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft touches do...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft touches down at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Aboard are NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes. ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers prepare to load NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, onto a flatbed truck at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  The twin RBSP spacecraft will be transported to the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center where Applied Physics Laboratory technicians will begin spacecraft testing and prelaunch preparations. Nitrogen will be pumped into the canisters during transport to provide the proper environmental control for the spacecraft.            The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2629

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers prepare to load NASA's Radiation Belt S...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers prepare to load NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, onto a flatbed truck at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Cent... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers secure NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, onto a flatbed truck at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  The twin RBSP spacecraft will be transported to the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center where Applied Physics Laboratory technicians will begin spacecraft testing and prelaunch preparations. Nitrogen will be pumped into the canisters during transport to provide the proper environmental control for the spacecraft.            The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2631

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers secure NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Prob...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers secure NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, onto a flatbed truck at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Flo... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers move NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, to the end of the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 airplane at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.          The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2624

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers move NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers move NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, to the end of the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 airplane at the Shuttle Landing Facilit... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers prepare to offload NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, from a U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo airplane at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.          The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2623

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers prepare to offload NASA's Radiation Bel...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers prepare to offload NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, from a U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo airplane at the Shuttle Landing Facility at N... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, is positioned at the end of the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 airplane to be offloaded at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.          The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2625

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed i...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, is positioned at the end of the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 airplane to be offloaded at the Shuttl... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, toward a flatbed truck at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  The twin RBSP spacecraft will be transported to the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center where Applied Physics Laboratory technicians will begin spacecraft testing and prelaunch preparations.          The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2628

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator NASA's Radiation Belt Storm...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, toward a flatbed truck at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Preparations are under way to offload NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes from a U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo airplane at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.         The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2616

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Preparations are under way to offload NASA's tw...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Preparations are under way to offload NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes from a U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo airplane at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in F... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes, enclosed in protective shipping containers, arrive at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida where Applied Physics Laboratory technicians will begin spacecraft testing and prelaunch preparations.  The spacecraft were delivered to Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility in the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft earlier in the day.             The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2634

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes, enclos...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes, enclosed in protective shipping containers, arrive at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida where ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers prepare to offload NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, from a U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo airplane at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.      The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2617

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers prepare to offload NASA's Radiation Bel...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers prepare to offload NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, from a U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo airplane at the Shuttle Landing Facility at N... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers secure NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, onto a flatbed truck at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  The twin RBSP spacecraft will be transported to the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center where Applied Physics Laboratory technicians will begin spacecraft testing and prelaunch preparations.          The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2622

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers secure NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Prob...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers secure NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, onto a flatbed truck at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Flo... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator moves NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, toward the open bay door of the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida where Applied Physics Laboratory technicians will begin spacecraft testing and prelaunch preparations. The twin RBSP spacecraft arrived at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility in the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft earlier in the day.            The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2636

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator moves NASA's Radiation Belt...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator moves NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, toward the open bay door of the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator lowers NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, from the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 airplane to the tarmac at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.          The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2627

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator lowers NASA's Radiation Bel...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator lowers NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, from the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 airplane to the tarmac at the Shut... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Preparations are under way to offload NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes, enclosed in protective shipping containers, into the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida where Applied Physics Laboratory technicians will begin spacecraft testing and prelaunch preparations. The spacecraft arrived at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility in the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft earlier in the day.            The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2635

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Preparations are under way to offload NASA's tw...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Preparations are under way to offload NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes, enclosed in protective shipping containers, into the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kenne... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, is positioned into the airlock of the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida where Applied Physics Laboratory technicians will begin spacecraft testing and prelaunch preparations.  The twin RBSP spacecraft arrived at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility in the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft earlier in the day.            The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2637

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed i...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, is positioned into the airlock of the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Cen... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator moves NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, toward a flatbed truck at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The twin RBSP spacecraft will be transported to the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center where Applied Physics Laboratory technicians will begin spacecraft testing and prelaunch preparations.        The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2620

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator moves NASA's Radiation Belt...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator moves NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, toward a flatbed truck at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft lands at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Aboard are NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes.          The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2615

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft lands at t...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft lands at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Aboard are NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes. The RBSP... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft approaches the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Aboard are NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes.                The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2612

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft approaches...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft approaches the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Aboard are NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes. ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes, enclosed in protective shipping containers, have arrived in the airlock of the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida where Applied Physics Laboratory technicians will begin spacecraft testing and prelaunch preparations.  The spacecraft were delivered to Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility in the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft earlier in the day.          The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2641

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes, enclos...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes, enclosed in protective shipping containers, have arrived in the airlock of the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Cen... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A worker releases NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, from the forklift that delivered it to the airlock of the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida where Applied Physics Laboratory technicians will begin spacecraft testing and prelaunch preparations.  The twin RBSP spacecraft arrived at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility in the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft earlier in the day.          The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2640

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A worker releases NASA's Radiation Belt Storm P...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A worker releases NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, from the forklift that delivered it to the airlock of the Astrotech payload processing ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator moves NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, toward the open bay door of the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida where Applied Physics Laboratory technicians will begin spacecraft testing and prelaunch preparations.  The twin RBSP spacecraft arrived at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility in the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft earlier in the day.          The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2639

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator moves NASA's Radiation Belt...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator moves NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, toward the open bay door of the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers position NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, onto a flatbed truck at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The twin RBSP spacecraft will be transported to the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center where Applied Physics Laboratory technicians will begin spacecraft testing and prelaunch preparations.      The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2621

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers position NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Pr...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers position NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, onto a flatbed truck at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in F... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes, enclosed in protective shipping containers, depart from the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a flatbed truck.  The spacecraft were delivered in the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft earlier in the day and are on their way to the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center where Applied Physics Laboratory technicians will begin spacecraft testing and prelaunch preparations.            The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2633

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes, enclos...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes, enclosed in protective shipping containers, depart from the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a flatbed tr... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft nears landing at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Aboard are NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes.              The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2613

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft nears land...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft nears landing at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Aboard are NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes. ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers move NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, to the end of the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 airplane at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.        The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2618

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers move NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers move NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, to the end of the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 airplane at the Shuttle Landing Facilit... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift is enlisted to lower NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, from the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 airplane to the tarmac at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.      The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2619

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift is enlisted to lower NASA's Radiatio...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift is enlisted to lower NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, from the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 airplane to the tarmac at the... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator lowers NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, from the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 airplane to the tarmac at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.          The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23.  For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2626

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator lowers NASA's Radiation Bel...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator lowers NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, from the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 airplane to the tarmac at the Shut... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians lift the shipping container from around NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, wrapped in a protective shroud. Prelaunch preparations and spacecraft testing will follow.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2650

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians lift the shipping container fro... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians line up the holding fixtures containing the solar arrays for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2660

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians line up the holding fixtures co... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians place the one of the solar arrays for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A into a holding fixture.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2656

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians place the one of the solar arra... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, preparations are under way to remove the shipping container from around NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A. Applied Physics Laboratory technicians then will begin prelaunch preparations and spacecraft testing.    The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2648

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, preparations are under way to remove the shipping container from aroun... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians steady one of the solar arrays for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A as it is secured into a holding fixture.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2659

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians steady one of the solar arrays ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians secure NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, wrapped in a protective shroud, on a test stand. Prelaunch preparations and spacecraft testing will follow.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2653

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians secure NASA's Radiation Belt St... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians prepare to remove the shipping container from around NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A. Prelaunch preparations and spacecraft testing will follow.    The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2649

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians prepare to remove the shipping ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians secure one of the solar arrays for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A into a holding fixture.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2658

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians secure one of the solar arrays ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians lift NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, wrapped in a protective shroud, onto a test stand. Prelaunch preparations and spacecraft testing will follow.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2652

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians lift NASA's Radiation Belt Stor... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians unpack the solar arrays for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2654

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians unpack the solar arrays for NAS... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Holding fixtures containing the solar arrays for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A line the floor of the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2661

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Holding fixtures containing the solar arrays fo...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Holding fixtures containing the solar arrays for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A line the floor of the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Ken... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a team approach is used by Applied Physics Laboratory technicians to lift one of the solar arrays for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A from its shipping container.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2657

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a team approach is used by Applied Physics Laboratory technicians to l... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians prepare to lift NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, wrapped in a protective shroud, from the bottom of its shipping container. Prelaunch preparations and spacecraft testing will follow.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2651

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians prepare to lift NASA's Radiatio... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians prepare to place one of the solar arrays for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A into a holding fixture.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2655

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians prepare to place one of the sol... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians lift NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, wrapped in a protective shroud, from the bottom of its shipping container. Prelaunch preparations and spacecraft testing will follow.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2664

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians lift NASA's Radiation Belt Stor... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians lift one of the solar arrays for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B from its shipping container.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2673

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians lift one of the solar arrays fo... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians line up the holding fixtures containing the solar arrays for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes A and B.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2676

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians line up the holding fixtures co... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians position NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, wrapped in a protective shroud, on a test stand. Prelaunch preparations and spacecraft testing will follow.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2667

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians position NASA's Radiation Belt ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, an Applied Physics Laboratory technician prepares the instruments and equipment that will be used to test and monitor NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2665

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, an Applied Physics Laboratory technician prepares the instruments and ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes A and B are secured on test stands and ready for prelaunch preparations and spacecraft testing to begin.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2677

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes A and B are secured on test stands ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians lower NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, wrapped in a protective shroud, onto a test stand. Prelaunch preparations and spacecraft testing will follow.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2666

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians lower NASA's Radiation Belt Sto... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, an Applied Physics Laboratory technician secures NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B to a test stand from beneath the spacecraft.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2675

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, an Applied Physics Laboratory technician secures NASA's Radiation Belt... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians remove the protective shroud from around NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B. Prelaunch preparations and spacecraft testing will follow.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2668

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians remove the protective shroud fr... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians unpack one of the solar arrays for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2671

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians unpack one of the solar arrays ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians prepare to connect NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes to instruments and equipment that will be used to test and monitor them.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2670

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians prepare to connect NASA's twin ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians prepare NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, wrapped in a protective shroud, to be lifted from the bottom of its shipping container. Prelaunch preparations and spacecraft testing will follow.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2662

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians prepare NASA's Radiation Belt S... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, an Applied Physics Laboratory technician cleans NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B.  Prelaunch preparations and spacecraft testing will follow.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2672

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, an Applied Physics Laboratory technician cleans NASA's Radiation Belt ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians remove the protective shroud from around NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B.  Its twin, Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, in the background, has already been uncovered.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2669

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians remove the protective shroud fr... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a team approach is used by Applied Physics Laboratory technicians to secure one of the solar arrays for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B to a holding fixture.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2674

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a team approach is used by Applied Physics Laboratory technicians to s... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians prepare to lift NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, wrapped in a protective shroud, from the bottom of its shipping container. Prelaunch preparations and spacecraft testing will follow.      The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, particularly those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2663

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Applied Physics Laboratory technicians prepare to lift NASA's Radiatio... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A technician performs a black light inspection on one of NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes inside the clean room high bay at Astrotech payload processing facility. Black light inspection uses UVA fluorescence to detect possible microcontamination, small cracks or fluid leaks.     The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-3131

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A technician performs a black light inspection ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A technician performs a black light inspection on one of NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes inside the clean room high bay at Astrotech payload processing facility. Black light inspection... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Using flashlights, technicians closely inspect one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes in the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center in Florida.    The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-3128

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Using flashlights, technicians closely inspect ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Using flashlights, technicians closely inspect one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes in the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Rad... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Barely visible behind equipment, a technician uses a black light to inspect one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes inside the clean room high bay at Astrotech payload processing facility. Black light inspection uses UVA fluorescence to detect possible microcontamination, small cracks or fluid leaks.     The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-3132

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Barely visible behind equipment, a technician u...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Barely visible behind equipment, a technician uses a black light to inspect one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes inside the clean room high bay at Astrotech payload processing f... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a technician performs a black light inspection on one of the Radiation Belt Storm Probes. Black light inspection uses UVA fluorescence to detect possible microcontamination, small cracks or fluid leaks.     The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-3130

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech payload processing facility ne...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a technician performs a black light inspection on one of the Radiation Belt Storm Probes. Black l... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Working in near-darkness inside the high bay clean room at the Astrotech payload processing facility, two technicians use black lights to inspect of one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes. Black light inspection uses UVA fluorescence to detect possible microcontamination, small cracks or fluid leaks.    The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-3134

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Working in near-darkness inside the high bay cl...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Working in near-darkness inside the high bay clean room at the Astrotech payload processing facility, two technicians use black lights to inspect of one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Stor... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes A and B are secured to work stands in the Astrotech payload processing facility, where technicians work to clean and inspect the two spacecraft.    The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-3129

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes A and B are ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes A and B are secured to work stands in the Astrotech payload processing facility, where technicians work to clean and inspect the two spacecraft. The ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Technicians use flashlights to conduct a meticulous inspection of one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes. The spacecraft is secured to a work stand inside the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center in Florida.    The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-3127

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Technicians use flashlights to conduct a meticu...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Technicians use flashlights to conduct a meticulous inspection of one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes. The spacecraft is secured to a work stand inside the Astrotech payload pr... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Using a black light, a technician closely inspects one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes inside the clean room high bay at Astrotech payload processing facility. Black light inspection uses UVA fluorescence to detect possible microcontamination, small cracks or fluid leaks.    The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-3135

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Using a black light, a technician closely inspe...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Using a black light, a technician closely inspects one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes inside the clean room high bay at Astrotech payload processing facility. Black light insp... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Technicians inspect one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes inside the clean room high bay at Astrotech payload processing facility.    The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-3133

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Technicians inspect one of NASA's twin Radiatio...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Technicians inspect one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes inside the clean room high bay at Astrotech payload processing facility. The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mi... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A technician cleans and inspects one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes in the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center in Florida.    The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-3126

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A technician cleans and inspects one of NASA's ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A technician cleans and inspects one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes in the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center in Florid... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians prepare to clean and inspect Radiation Belt Storm Probes A and B.    The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-3125

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians prepare to clean and inspect Radiation Belt Storm Probes A... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Using a black light, technicians closely inspect a solar panel on one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes inside the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The technicians are dressed in clean-room attire known as “bunny suits.”    Black-light inspection uses UVA fluorescence to detect possible microcontamination, small cracks or fluid leaks. The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Launch is targeted for Aug. 23.   For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-3223

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Using a black light, technicians closely inspec...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Using a black light, technicians closely inspect a solar panel on one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes inside the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facilit... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Working in near-darkness inside the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians use black lights to inspect a solar panel on one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes. The technicians are dressed in clean-room attire known as “bunny suits.”    Black-light inspection uses UVA fluorescence to detect possible microcontamination, small cracks or fluid leaks. The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Launch is targeted for Aug. 23.   For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-3220

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Working in near-darkness inside the clean room ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Working in near-darkness inside the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians use black lights to inspect a... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Working in near-darkness inside the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians use black lights to inspect a solar panel on one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes. The technicians are dressed in clean-room attire known as “bunny suits.”    Black-light inspection uses UVA fluorescence to detect possible microcontamination, small cracks or fluid leaks. The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Launch is targeted for Aug. 23.   For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-3222

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Working in near-darkness inside the clean room ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Working in near-darkness inside the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians use black lights to inspect a... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Using a black light, technicians closely inspect a solar panel on one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes inside the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The technicians are dressed in clean-room attire known as “bunny suits.”    Black-light inspection uses UVA fluorescence to detect possible microcontamination, small cracks or fluid leaks. The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Launch is targeted for Aug. 23.   For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-3219

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Using a black light, technicians closely inspec...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Using a black light, technicians closely inspect a solar panel on one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes inside the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facilit... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Using a black light, technicians closely inspect a solar panel on one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes inside the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  The technicians are dressed in clean-room attire known as “bunny suits.”    Black-light inspection uses UVA fluorescence to detect possible microcontamination, small cracks or fluid leaks. The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Launch is targeted for Aug. 23.   For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.  Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-3221

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Using a black light, technicians closely inspec...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Using a black light, technicians closely inspect a solar panel on one of NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes inside the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facilit... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Atlas V first stage booster for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission is offloaded from United Launch Alliance's Delta Mariner barge at Port Canaveral in Florida.    The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-3380

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Atlas V first stage booster for NASA's Radi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Atlas V first stage booster for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission is offloaded from United Launch Alliance's Delta Mariner barge at Port Canaveral in Florida. The Radiatio... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians monitor the progress as the Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, spacecraft B is lowered to a horizontal position. The RBSP had been in a vertical position for testing.    NASA’s RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Launch is targeted for Aug. 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-3371

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Astrotech payload processing facilit...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians monitor the progress as the Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, spacecraft B is... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The United Launch Alliance Atlas V first stage booster for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission travels through Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida en route to the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center, or ASOC.    The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-3385

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The United Launch Alliance Atlas V first stage ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The United Launch Alliance Atlas V first stage booster for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission travels through Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida en route to the Atlas Spa... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians monitor the progress as the Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, spacecraft B is lowered to a horizontal position. The RBSP had been in a vertical position for testing.    NASA’s RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Launch is targeted for Aug. 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-3366

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Astrotech payload processing facilit...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians monitor the progress as the Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, spacecraft B is... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, employees prepare to move the United Launch Alliance Atlas V first stage booster into the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center, or ASOC. The booster, which was delivered by barge to nearby Port Canaveral, will be used to launch NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission.    The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-3393

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida,...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, employees prepare to move the United Launch Alliance Atlas V first stage booster into the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center, or ASOC. The... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians monitor the progress as the Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, spacecraft B is lowered to a horizontal position. The RBSP had been in a vertical position for testing.    NASA’s RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Launch is targeted for Aug. 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-3370

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Astrotech payload processing facilit...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians monitor the progress as the Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, spacecraft B is... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Framed by palm trees and backdropped by the Banana River, the United Launch Alliance Atlas V first stage booster for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission arrives at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The booster was delivered by barge to nearby Port Canaveral.    The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-3383

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Framed by palm trees and backdropped by the Ban...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Framed by palm trees and backdropped by the Banana River, the United Launch Alliance Atlas V first stage booster for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission arrives at Cape Canaveral A... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The United Launch Alliance Atlas V first stage booster for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes is in place inside the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center, or ASOC, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.    The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-3397

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The United Launch Alliance Atlas V first stage ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The United Launch Alliance Atlas V first stage booster for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes is in place inside the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center, or ASOC, at Cape Canaveral Air Fo... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians monitor the progress as the Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, spacecraft B is lowered to a horizontal position. The RBSP had been in a vertical position for testing.    NASA’s RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Launch is targeted for Aug. 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-3365

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Astrotech payload processing facilit...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians monitor the progress as the Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, spacecraft B is... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The United Launch Alliance Atlas V first stage booster for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission arrives at the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center, or ASOC, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.    The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-3391

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The United Launch Alliance Atlas V first stage ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The United Launch Alliance Atlas V first stage booster for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission arrives at the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center, or ASOC, at Cape Canaveral Air Fo... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The United Launch Alliance Atlas V first stage booster for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission backs into the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center, or ASOC, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.    The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-3395

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The United Launch Alliance Atlas V first stage ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The United Launch Alliance Atlas V first stage booster for NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission backs into the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center, or ASOC, at Cape Canaveral Air Fo... More

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