60th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST U.S. SATELLITE – EXPLORER 1 (Natl Academies), Jan 31, 2018, DC, 12:30-5:30 ET (webcast)

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the launch of the first U.S. satellite, Explorer 1, which led to the discovery of the Van Allen Belts of radiation that encircle the Earth.  They are named after University of Iowa scientist and National Academy of Sciences member James Van Allen (1914-2006), who designed the instruments for the satellite.

The event will take place at the National Academy of Sciences building, 2101 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington,DC from 12:30-5:30 pm ET and will be webcast.

More information and a link to (free) registration is on the event’s website.  Please register whether you plan to attend in person or watch the webcast.

The agenda is also posted.  Speakers include:

• Lou Lanzerotti, New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Lev Zelenyi, Russian Academy of Sciences
• Dan Baker, University of Colorado-Boulder
• Mike Freilich, NASA HQ
• Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA HQ
• Robyn Millian, Dartmouth College
• Allison Jaynes, University of Iowa
• Wen Li, Boston University

NASA and the Air Force are planning additional events on January 25 and January 31.