Old NASA Science Satellite Crashes Back to Earth

The Van Allen Probe A plunged uncontrolled from orbit and reentered over the Pacific Ocean.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 12:51am

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An old NASA science satellite, the Van Allen Probe A, has crashed back to Earth after plunging uncontrolled from orbit. The 1,323-pound spacecraft reentered the atmosphere west of the Galapagos Islands, with NASA expecting some parts to survive the fiery descent.

Why it matters

The Van Allen Probe A was launched in 2012 to study the Van Allen radiation belts surrounding Earth, but ceased operations in 2019 after running out of fuel. Its uncontrolled reentry highlights the challenges of tracking and predicting the fate of decommissioned satellites as they fall back to Earth.

The details

The U.S. Space Force confirmed the Van Allen Probe A's uncontrolled reentry over the Pacific. NASA put the risk of bodily harm from the crash at 1-in-4,200. The probe's twin, the Van Allen Probe B, is still orbiting Earth but is no longer functioning. Intense solar activity over the past few years hastened the A probe's demise, as its eccentric, lopsided orbit made the reentry especially difficult to predict.

  • The Van Allen Probe A reentered the atmosphere on March 15, 2026.
  • The Van Allen Probe A was launched in 2012 and ceased operations in 2019.

The players

Van Allen Probe A

An old NASA science satellite that plunged uncontrolled from orbit and reentered the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean.

Van Allen Probe B

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

NASA

The U.S. space agency that launched the Van Allen Probe satellites in 2012 to study the Van Allen radiation belts surrounding Earth.

U.S. Space Force

The military branch that confirmed the uncontrolled reentry of the Van Allen Probe A over the Pacific Ocean.

Marco Langbroek

A Dutch scientist who noted that all satellite reentries are difficult to predict, especially for 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

The takeaway

The uncontrolled reentry of the Van Allen Probe A highlights the ongoing challenges of tracking and predicting the fate of decommissioned satellites as they fall back to Earth, especially as solar activity and other factors can accelerate their demise. This incident underscores the need for improved satellite tracking and debris mitigation strategies to ensure public safety.