A Van Allen belt is a protective electromagnetic field of radiation, a component of a planet's magnetic field. (TOS - The Eugenics Wars novel: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh, Volume 1)
Specifics[]
While Earth's magnetosphere extends 64,000 kilometers from the surface, its two high-intensity Van Allen belts range from 400 to 6,500 kilometers outward and prevent solar wind particles from reaching the surface. Such belts are a common feature of class M planets. (TOS reference: Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual)
Similar fields on various planets are described in relation to Earth's Van Allen belt. (TOS - Constellations short story: "Ambition")
Jupiter's radiation belts were 10,000 times stronger than Earth's belt. (Last Unicorn RPG - Starfleet Academy module: A Cadet's Guide to Sector 001 Earth)
In the 23rd century, Solar flare cosmic ray levels are measured on a scale based on the intensity of Earth's belt. (TOS novelization: The Empath)
Radiation from a Van Allen belt could interfere with a starship's tractor beam. (TOS - Constellations short story: "Ambition")
History[]
Earth's belts were discovered by physicist James Van Allen in 1958. (TOS reference: Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual)
In the 1980s, Doctor Wilson Evergreen designed a probe to alter Earth's Van Allen belt such that it would restore the damaged ozone layer of the atmosphere. On 2 December 1984, Gary Seven convinced Evergreen to self destruct the probe for the betterment of humanity. (TOS - The Eugenics Wars novel: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh, Volume 1)
Khan Noonien Singh's Morning Star orbital satellite was able to disrupt Earth's belt. On 10 July 1992, the station distorted the belt such that artificial lightning destroyed a section of the planet's ozone layer above the south pole. (TOS - The Eugenics Wars novel: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh, Volume 2)
In the 21st century, the UNSS Tiller bombarded Venus with ice asteroids to increase the planet's rotational speed with the goal of generating a Van Allen belt. (ST reference: Spaceflight Chronology)
In 2267, junior science officer David Frank had to adjust the USS Enterprise's tractor beam harmonics to account for the effects of Van Allen radiation and atmospheric distortion. (TOS - Constellations short story: "Ambition")
In 2268, solar flare cosmic radiation levels spiked at 3.51 on the Van Allen scale during the Enterprise's visit to the Minara system. (TOS novelization: The Empath)
- The novelization called it the Van Allen scale, whereas the episode called it the Ritter scale.
In 2376, Doctor Pascal Saadya hoped to tow Mercury into orbit of Venus, such that tidal effects would produce a protective magnetic field around the planet. (COE eBook: Ishtar Rising)
Appendices[]
References[]
- TOS novelization: The Empath
- TOS reference: Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual
- ST reference: Spaceflight Chronology
- Last Unicorn RPG - Starfleet Academy module: A Cadet's Guide to Sector 001 Earth
- TOS - The Eugenics Wars novel: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh, Volume 1
- TOS - The Eugenics Wars novel: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh, Volume 2
- COE eBook: Ishtar Rising (not by name)
- TOS - Constellations short story: "Ambition"
External link[]
- Van Allen radiation belt article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.