This field pushes away the Van Allen Belts, a radiation swim-floaty that surrounds Earth's middle. Van Allen radiation hinders and complicates spaceflight, magnetic instruments, and more. The agency sends probes to explore different parts of our solar system, including the Van Allen Belts: a huge, torus-shaped area of radiation that surrounds Earth. NASA/Public Domain A cross section of Van Allen radiation belts. This means that, for example, space programs could develop VLF technology to punch holes for spacecraft to travel through.