THE NUKING OF THE VAN ALLEN BELTS-Operation Dominic:Fishbowl and Starfish 4K RE-RELEASE

The Van Allen radiation belts were discovered in 1958 by the Explorer 1 satellite, the first successful U.S. satellite launch. These belts consist of two main zones of energetic charged particles, primarily electrons and protons, trapped by Earth's magnetic field. Why did the United States military nuke them in 1962 effectively making travel beyond low earth orbit deadly to anyone who would try and making the belts themselves larger. Why would nuking the van Allan radiation belts serve to do anything but to prohibit travel to and from Earth. Were they trying to keep something out or were they trying to keep all of us in?