Old NASA Science Satellite Plunges Back to Earth

The Van Allen Probe A spacecraft reentered over the Pacific after years in orbit.

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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An old NASA science satellite, the Van Allen Probe A, plunged uncontrolled from orbit and reentered the Earth's atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday. NASA expected some of the 1,323-pound spacecraft to survive entry, with most of it burning up. The space agency put the risk of bodily harm at 1-in-4,200.

Why it matters

The Van Allen Probe A was launched in 2012 to study the Van Allen radiation belts surrounding the Earth, operating for seven years before ceasing operations in 2019. Its uncontrolled reentry highlights the challenges of managing aging satellites and space debris as they reach the end of their operational lifespans.

The details

The U.S. Space Force reported that the Van Allen Probe A reentered the atmosphere west of the Galapagos Islands. NASA anticipated the satellite's demise would be hastened by intense solar activity over the past several years, despite earlier projections that it would remain in orbit until 2034. Its twin, the Van Allen Probe B, is still orbiting Earth but is no longer functioning.

  • The Van Allen Probe A reentered the Earth's atmosphere on Wednesday, March 12, 2026.
  • The Van Allen Probe A was launched in 2012 and operated for seven years before ceasing operations in 2019.
  • The Van Allen Probe B is expected to reenter the atmosphere before 2030.

The players

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.

U.S. Space Force

The space warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces, one of the eight uniformed services of the United States.

Van Allen Probe A

A NASA science satellite that was launched in 2012 to study the Van Allen radiation belts surrounding the Earth, and reentered the atmosphere in 2026.

Van Allen Probe B

The twin satellite of the Van Allen Probe A, which is still orbiting Earth but is no longer functioning.

Marco Langbroek

A Dutch scientist who commented on the difficulty of predicting the reentry of the Van Allen Probe A due to its eccentric, lopsided orbit.

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What they’re saying

“All re-entries are difficult to predict, but this one was especially challenging given its eccentric, lopsided orbit.”

— Marco Langbroek, Dutch scientist

What’s next

NASA is expected to continue monitoring the status of the Van Allen Probe B as it remains in orbit, and will likely study the lessons learned from the uncontrolled reentry of the Van Allen Probe A to inform future satellite decommissioning and debris management strategies.

The takeaway

The uncontrolled reentry of the Van Allen Probe A highlights the ongoing challenges of managing aging satellites and space debris, and the need for robust plans to safely decommission spacecraft at the end of their operational lifespans to minimize the risks to public safety.