Scientists Reveal Where Earth Ends and Space Begins

VIVA – When a spacecraft blasts off the surface of Earth, it eventually exists in our planet’s airspace and enters outer space. Where, precisely, that boundary lies is up for some debates

Baca Juga

Pelarian Bos Tempat Hiburan Malam Planet Batam Berakhir! Baru Mendarat dari Singapura Langsung Diciduk Bareskrim

Many experts cite what’s called the Karman line as that edge of space, which establishes the boundary as the altitude above which conventional aircraft can’t fly. That line is often placed at approximately 62 miles above our planet’s surface.

The Karman Line has many practical uses, but its scientific accuracy has been questioned. Assigning a precise value to the edge of space is anything but straightforward.

Baca Juga

5 Fenomena Valentine di Luar Angkasa

“In science, the boundaries we draw don’t exist in nature exactly. “Where a boundary exists is where some quantity changes very rapidly over a short distance… And that is true at this edge of the atmosphere. But what you choose to call space and what you choose to call Earth—that’s a human decision that’s not forced on us by physics.” says Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Center for Astrophysics.



Bumi dan Matahari yang dilihat dari luar angkasa.

Photo :

• Getty Images

Baca Juga

Planet Kontroversial Ditemukan

Furthermore, the implications of deciding where Earth ends and space begins to go beyond whether or not travelers earn their astronaut wings. Air traffic is typically regulated on the national level, with countries controlling the airspace over their land. Flying too low, for example, has the potential to inadvertently start an international conflict.

But space is intrinsically global, according to McDowell. Different international treaties apply to space. As more nations launch satellites, and private spaceflight companies build a suborbital space tourism industry, defining the distinction between Earth’s airspace and outer space is becoming increasingly important.

The Karman line is based on physics, in that it describes how the characteristics of Earth’s atmosphere at different altitudes affect a craft’s ability to fly. Planes stay airborne largely from the lift generated by their wings against the thickness of Earth’s atmosphere.

Halaman Selanjutnya

But as our atmosphere rises in altitude, it thins. At a certain point, the air is too thin for traditional aircraft, and any craft above that altitude requires a propulsion system, such as a rocket, to remain aloft. That distinction is the Karman line.