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James Alfred Van Allen (September 7, 1914 – August 9, 2006) was an American space scientist at the University of Iowa. He was instrumental in establishing the field of magnetospheric research in space.
James A. Van Allen (born Sept. 7, 1914, Mount Pleasant, Iowa, U.S.—died Aug. 9, 2006, Iowa City, Iowa) was an American physicist, whose discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts, two zones of radiation encircling Earth, brought about new understanding of cosmic radiation and its effects on Earth.
Learn about the life and achievements of James A. Van Allen, the "Father of Space Science" and the discoverer of the Van Allen radiation belts. Explore his contributions to cosmic ray research, space exploration, and education at the University of Iowa and beyond.
May 11, 2018 · James Van Allen, a physicist at the University of Iowa, discovered these radiation belts in 1958 after the launch of Explorer 1, the first U.S. satellite. The radiation belts were eventually...
Aug 10, 2006 · James A. Van Allen, the physicist who made the first major scientific discovery of the early space age, the Earth-circling radiation belts that bear his name, and sent spacecraft instruments to...
Jun 14, 2024 · Van Allen radiation belt, doughnut-shaped zones of highly energetic charged particles trapped at high altitudes in the magnetic field of Earth. The zones were named for James A. Van Allen, the American physicist who discovered them in 1958, using data transmitted by the U.S. Explorer satellite.
James A. Van Allen was a pathbreaking astrophysicist best known for his work in magnetospheric physics. Van Allen graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1935. He then enrolled at the University of Iowa where he received an M.S. in 1936 and a Ph.D. in 1939.
