Satellite observations of the artificial radiation belt of July 1962

The earlier paper by O'Brien, Laughlin, and Van Allen on the earth's artificial radiation belt of July 1902 is reviewed and some additional data from Injun 1 on absolute intensities and time decay are given. The results and implications of this series of observations are shown to be in marked disagreement with the summary interpretation of Injun 1, Ariel, Traac, and Telstar data proposed by Hess and Nakada. New SUI observations by means of Explorer 14 in early October 1962 are reported and are found to be more or less consistent with the results of O'Brien, Laughlin, and Van Allen, but they can be reconciled with the interpretation of Hess and Nakada only by means of one or more heroic assumptions.