Researchers Pinpoint the Edge of Space -- The Boundary Between Earth’s Atmosphere and Outer Space
Where does space begin? Scientists at the University of Calgary have created a new instrument that is able to track in unprecedented detail the transition between the relatively gentle winds of Earth’s atmosphere and the more violent flows of charged particles in space -- flows that can reach speeds well over 1,000 km/hr.
Comments:
Since the Redstone only went up 50 Miles, does this mean we need to reclassify the 1st American in space from Alan Sheppard to John Glenn?
Daniel:<br> I think you are wrong with the 50 mile figure. I am almost certain he went up 115 miles. During those first few flights I was glued to the TV and even recorded detailed notes while teaching myself to type. In those early days of space flight, I listened to every word spoken by Walter Cronkite from the start of the flights to the splash down. <br><br>George
I find it useful to make this number (118Km) relevant to our everyday experiences with a mental exercise:<br><br>Think of a place you drive to that is about 53 miles away. Now imagine that distance straight up, and you have the entire atmosphere of our planet confined within that vertical distance. Do the same mental exercise for a place that is only 5 to 6 miles away to visualize the approximate height of our breathable atmosphere. What appears to be infinite is really quite finite!<br><br>This helps me appreciate even more the incredible, essential resource that is our atmosphere.<br><br>Ron
Funding Member
