The Van Allen Radiation Belts are two layers of charged particles held in place by the Earth's magnetic field. These belts are located in the upper atmosphere and consist mainly of electrons and protons. They were discovered in 1958 by James Van Allen and his team using instruments aboard the first American satellite, Explorer 1. The inner belt extends from about 1,000 to 12,000 kilometers above the Earth, while the outer belt ranges from 13,000 to 58,000 kilometers. These radiation belts can pose risks to satellites and astronauts, as the high-energy particles can damage electronic systems and human health.