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View Full Version : The death has been announced of Dr James Van Allen

Sticks
10-08-2006, 04:03 PM
Reported on Space Ref (http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.rss.html?pid=20565)

http://images.theglobeandmail.com/archives/RTGAM/images/20060809/wobvanallen0809/_done_0809vanallen_230.jpg


IOWA CITY, Iowa (Updated Wednesday, August 9, 2006 11:05 AM ) -- Dr. James A. Van Allen, U.S. space pioneer and Regent Distinguished Professor of Physics in the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, died this morning, Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2006 at the age of 91. Arrangements are pending.

Though he retired from active teaching in 1985, he continued to monitor data from Pioneer 10 throughout the spacecraft's 1972-2003 operational lifetime and serve as an interdisciplinary scientist for the Galileo spacecraft, which reached Jupiter on Dec. 7, 1995.

The highlight of Van Allen's long and distinguished career was his use of UI-built instruments carried aboard the first successful U.S. satellite, Explorer 1, in 1958 to discover bands of intense radiation -- later known as the Van Allen radiation belts -- surrounding the Earth. It came at the height of the U.S.-Soviet space race and literally put the United States on the map in the field of space exploration.
JakeyBoy
10-08-2006, 05:56 PM
Oh... my gosh... so umm... heartbroken
Ella
10-08-2006, 05:57 PM
Erm i dont want to sound nasty but , who is he
JakeyBoy
10-08-2006, 05:58 PM
Like I know... I don't think anyone but Sticks will know
Ella
10-08-2006, 05:59 PM
Yes probably...and i wasnt asking if you knew! :tongue:
Sticks
10-08-2006, 06:19 PM
He is the one that discovered the Van Allen Radiation belts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Allen_Belts) and he also helped debunk those who tried to claim the moon landing never happened when ever they tried to say radiation in the Van Allen belts was a show stopper. After all, as Dr Van Allen had discovered them he knew what he was talking about.

Dr Van Allen also charted similar belts round the outer planets with data from Pioneer 10.

I just weep at the lack of scientific literacy around today :sad: This man was one of the pivetal scientists in space exploration and nobody knows who he was. :bored:
Ella
10-08-2006, 06:23 PM
Well im only 18 how am i meant to know who he is :sad:
Siouxsie
10-08-2006, 06:30 PM
I know who vanhalen is but who is Van Allen ?????
Z
10-08-2006, 06:31 PM
I actually do know of him though I couldn't have told you what he did specifically. Still, a death's always a loss, especially to someone who contributed something to society other than a magazine spread.
Siouxsie
10-08-2006, 06:32 PM
true very true
JakeyBoy
10-08-2006, 06:33 PM
Give me a break, I'm only 14:rolleyes::laugh:
Siouxsie
10-08-2006, 06:42 PM
:laugh::joker: and funny with it
Sticks
10-08-2006, 07:15 PM
What do they teach at schools nowadays :conf:
Bells
10-08-2006, 07:16 PM
I don't know who he is unfortunately, but it's sad he died anyway.
MarkWaldorf
10-08-2006, 07:17 PM
Originally posted by Sticks
What do they teach at schools nowadays :conf:

Nothing that you'll of, its all changed
Siouxsie
10-08-2006, 07:17 PM
sticks your not on here very often but when you do you wake everyone up lol I love it and you with your huge mind of information makes me laugh :laugh::laugh::bigsmile:
babybay
10-08-2006, 07:18 PM
Who is that?
Siouxsie
10-08-2006, 07:24 PM
Mr sticks he provides us with everything we need to know hahahaha