Citazione:

Però si può dire, almeno nei primi anni della scoperta, che gli scienziati erano molto preoccupati da queste fasce, si pensava di evitarle 'tout court', almeno da quello che si legge dai giornali, i giornalisti sappiamo sono soliti esagerare e semplificare

Science: Doughnut Around the Earth - 08 dec 58
Obvious conclusion: the space ports of the future may have to be in far northern Canada or Antarctica, where men can soar into space through the escape zones over the magnetic poles, thus eluding the lethal hazards of the Van Allen belt.

Science: VOICE FROM SPACE - 04 May 58
[qui entra nello specifico della metodologia delle misurazioni di Van Allen, però la letalità delle radiazioni non è istantanea ma 'matter of days']

Channel III, a Geiger tube, records higher rates of radiation, is designed to take over when Channel I is swamped. Here its square-topped waves are indicating about 4,000 counts per second, enough to kill a man exposed to them in a matter of days.

Science: Hard Belt - 09 Feb 59
[qui è descritto un progetto per spazzare via almeno un corridoio di sicurezza]

The hard inner belt is not to be fooled with; its particles can easily penetrate several inches of metal. But, says Dr. Singer, if it proves a serious hazard to space navigation, it can be removed. This sweeping of space can be achieved by firing a big satellite of heavy metal into an equatorial orbit that keeps it inside the doughnut-shaped belt. Since the belt's particles are moving on spiral courses at almost the speed of light (186,000 miles per sec., equivalent to five times around the earth per second), they will have many chances to hit the satellite. Those that hit it will be slowed down so much that they will leave the belt. In a few months or years nearly all will be gone. Dr. Singer figures that once the belt is destroyed, it will not build up to its present strength for 100 years.

Science: Russians on Tour - 07 Dec 59
[qui, se volessi fare il complottista, abbiamo i russi in pellegrinaggio da Van Allen, sono forse i primi accordi visto la pericolosità dei viaggi spaziali ?]

Four top Soviet spacemen visited the Iowa City laboratory of Professor James A. Van Allen, discoverer of Van Allen radiation. Addressing an audience of scientists and Iowa students, Academician Leonid I. Sedov gave a detailed report on the trajectories of Soviet moon shots. In response to questioning, he said that the Russians also had rocket failures. He denied rumors that they have put a man in space and said that they will not even try until three conditions exist: that the man will be safe in space, will return to earth safely, and will be able to do tasks beyond the capability of instruments.