New Delhi, March 11 -- NASA's Van Allen Probe A, a 1,323-pound spacecraft launched in 2012, is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere on March 10, 2026, around 7:45 p.m. EDT, according to the US Space Force. The probe, part of a twin mission with Van Allen Probe B, studied Earth's radiation belts for nearly seven years, providing vital data on space weather, solar storms, and cosmic radiation.

Most of the spacecraft is expected to burn up in the atmosphere. However, some components may survive re-entry and reach the Earth's surface. NASA estimates the risk to people is extremely low - about 1 in 4,200.

NASA's Van Allen Probe A, launched on August 30, 2012, alongside its twin Van Allen Probe B, studied Earth's radiation belts for nearly...