James Van Allen dies.

[spiney]

Best known as the discoverer of deadly radiation belts surrounding the earth, detected via instruments on some of the first artificial satellites.

The ionosphere was well known, but the Van Allen belts were a surprise.

They are supposedly one reason - say conspiracy nutters - why we never went to the moon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Van_Allen .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Allen_radiation_belt .

 

[Channel Hopper]

Best known as the discoverer of deadly radiation belts surrounding the earth,
They are supposedly one reason - say conspiracy nutters - why we never went to the moon.

Never mentioned them in the film Capricorn One either, the reason was down to cost and timing (though I think the use of 250,000 miles of extension lead for a moon landing may have had something to do with it).