What altitude represents the boundary between the Earth and the outer space?
The Karman line lies at an altitude of 100 km (62 mi; 330,000 ft) above Earth's sea level. It represents the boundary between Earth's atmosphere and outer space. It is an international standard-setting and used as the boundary separating Aeronautics and Astronautics. The line is named after Theodore Von Karman (1881-1963), a Hungarian American engineer and physicist. He was active primarily in aeronautics and astronautics. He was the first person to calculate that the atmosphere around this altitude becomes too thin to support aeronautical flight.
More Info:
en.wikipedia.org
What are your thoughts on this subject?
7 Comments
teacherchicky
It's been designated as the Karman line by the International Space Federation and is not a 'coincidence' Michael!
michael d engels
A nice coincidence that the boundary is an even 100km... ;-)
John McLardie
Brian Kessell, it has NOT been redefined - merely proposed by Jonathan C McDowell,
of Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden St, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA, in a paper dated 13 May 2018. This has not, as far as I am aware, been accepted by the FAI.
Stevie G
The Kármán line is the altitude where space begins. It is 100 km (about 62 miles) high. It commonly represents the border between the Earth's atmosphere and outer space.[1] This definition is accepted by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).
William Laughlin
Brian Kessell,
To ensure the veracity of your comment, YOU should supply a corroborating link!
Joseph A. Robitaille
It is interesting whatever the altitude is.
Brian Kessell
I read recently that the Karman line has been redefined to a lower altitude and it is now thought to be roughly 85 km's from the surface, but don't take my word for it search the subject and you will find I answered the question correctly