He was an American space scientist at the University of Iowa. The Van Allen radiation belts were named after him, following the 1958 satellite missions (Explorer 1 and Explorer 3) in which Van Allen had argued that a Geiger counter should be used to detect charged particles. James Van Allen’s contributions to astronomy or space science are probably best summarized by a statement of NASA administrator Michael Griffin, following Van Allen’s death in 2006.
The statement reads: “James Van Allen was one of the greatest and most accomplished American space scientists of our time, and few researchers had such a wide range of expertise in so many scientific disciplines. NASA’s path of space exploration is far more advanced today because of Dr. Van Allen’s groundbreaking work”.
(1914 – 2006)
– James Van Allen Quotes –
Apparently, something happens on the sun. It sends out a burst of gases. The reservoirs above our earth shake like a bowl of jelly. The radiation droozles out at the ends and makes the auroral displays at the North and South Poles.
~ James Van Allen
These days, it’s really been uninteresting except when disasters occur.
~ James Van Allen
Well, I don’t think that I responded with any profanity but I did manage to convey a suggestion as to what he could do with his piece and hung up.
~ James Van Allen
After a vast research program, which depended very heavily upon the use of a number of highspeed computers, I am pleased to offer you the result: “Space is that in which everything else is.” In other words, “Space is the hole that we are in
~ James Van Allen
We had an erector set, and I was an avid fan of Popular Mechanics and Popular Science magazines.
~ James Van Allen
Our family was very fond of the University of Iowa. We thought it was a good place to go.
~ James Van Allen
Certainly one of the most enthralling things about human life is the recognition that we live in what, for practical purposes, is a universe without bounds.
~ James Van Allen
Many of the papers presented there depended in an essential way upon others which had appeared originally in as many as three or four different languages. Surely science is one of the universal human activities
~ James Van Allen
I believe in scientific inquiry for its own sake. I think the history of science gives ample examples that pure investigation has enormous benefit. … I can’t tell you what this might be good for, but learning about nature is important. And lovely things turn up.
~ James Van Allen
A man is a fabulous nuisance in space right now. He’s not worth all the cost of putting him up there and keeping him comfortable and working.
~ James Van Allen
I don’t think that I responded with any profanity but I did manage to convey a suggestion as to what he could do with his piece and hung up.
~ James Van Allen
I’m one of the most durable advocates for space exploration around.
~ James Van Allen
