Radiation belts and beyond

We present the beginnings and evolution of APL research into energetic char ged particles and magnetic fields in space. Examples are provided of the ma ny discoveries and surprises stemming from this research program as it prog ressed from a small, inhouse effort in the early 1960s to today's extensive program in which the Laboratory closely interacts with the national and in ternational space research communities. We describe a future for APL space research that promises to provide a continuing rich harvest of breakthrough s and new perspectives. These new perspectives should lead to an understand ing of solar energetic particles and planetary radiation belts that will al low greatly improved predictions of space weather and its effects on system s operating in space as well as on Earth's surface.