You may not be familiar with the name, but around our house, he was often the man of the hour to be discussed. Mother was a staunch science fiction reader,and was totally fascinated with anything having to do with space, so when Van Allen came out with his discovery of the ring(s) of radiation around the earth,scientists from all over the world sat up and took notice of this young collage professor at the University of Iowa, in Iowa City,which was located less than 80 miles from my home town. As famous scientists beat a path to his door to see his invention that made the discovery possible, it was as though a "Home town boy makes good" scenario was playing out right before our very eyes....and even more so when the discovery was dubbed "The Van Allen belt" to honor him and his tremendous feat. It was even more of a thrill when his name and achievements were being mentioned in school text books,in science class. I heard his name so often growing up, he was practically a shirt-tail relative...a member of the family. So it is with a sense of loss and sadness, tinged with a little pride that I mention his passing. He made his mark in the late 1950's and early 60's,but his contribution to space exploration will forever stand as a part of the equation, when NASA figures each and every launch and re-entry. So I can say, You "dun" good, James! Dr. James Van Allen was 91.
OUI?
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