A Space Barrier Around Earth

A human-made space barrier around Earth was first observed by NASA in 2012. This zone of space weather has been caused by radio waves that we’ve been blasting into the atmosphere for decades. Experts say it helps protect humankind from dangerous space radiation.

NASA sends probes to different parts of our solar system, including the Van Allen Belts. This donut shaped area of radiation follows the equator, leaving the Poles free. The Van Allen Belts react to the magnetosphere created by the bombardment of radiation.

When spaceflights pass through areas of the Van Allen Belts, they must include radiation shielding to protect the crew and equipment.

Now we have a new protective barrier. Probes launched in 2012 detected it, and 2017 probes gave us evidence of a radio-wave barrier emanating from Earth. It seems very low frequency (VLF) radio communications are far more common now than in the 1960s and they can influence how and where certain particles move in space.

It turns out that very low frequency waves can cancel out or repel the radiative advances of the Van Allen Belts. The military usually use very low frequencies, which were the first frequencies used for broadcasting. Since then, private and recreational users have been pushed up the spectrum. AM waves are pretty low, but FM is farther up. Different wavelengths are used for different purposes.

VLF waves blanket the Earth without interfering with other radio signals or other kinds of waves flowing around the Earth. But VLF waves travel far enough into space to push away harmful radiation.

This could mean that space flights could use VLF technology to punch holes to travel through radiation fields.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/whoops-humans-made-a-space-barrier-around-earth/ar-AA1SC5bf?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=69446e95433043ca8ed260af6652d221&ei=73