Here's how the edge of space Crept closer to the land by 12 miles: Space: Nature World News

Jul 29, 2018 9:33 PM

In the sky, there is an invisible boundary that separates the Earth and the entirety of the space. Astronomers call this the Karman line.

It turns out that the Karman line is closer to several kilometers than the scientific community said. The Earth has not really moved, but astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell suggests that this boundary that divides the planet's atmosphere and the rest of the outer space is much closer than that. We did not believe it before.

A new study published online and part of the October 2018 issue of the journal Acta Astronautica revisits the Karman line and reveals that it lies about 12 miles closer of the Earth as the widely accepted distance of 100 kilometers or 62 miles.

satellites that are in orbit around the Earth, McDowell determines that the boundary is about 80 kilometers or just about 50 miles away.

According to Science Magazine, out of 43,000 satellites that McDowell has studied, at least 50 orbits below 85 kilometers or 53 miles. This makes the description of its locations more complicated, he says, adding that it's not worth saying that a satellite goes in and out of space every few hours .

The researcher also analyzed the return of satellites to Earth. speed against the drag of the atmosphere. With a model simulating the last 50 years, he checked the behavior of the limit at different latitudes and longitudes. McDowell found that the tug of the atmosphere becomes negligible between 66 and 88 kilometers or between 41 and 55 miles.

Despite the fact that McDowell disputes the widely accepted limit, there are many who agree with his suggestions

. Indeed, a reasonable position for "where space begins" is about 80 kilometers, "says George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic. He adds that it is consistent with the previous NASA and Air Force to grant astronaut wings to pilots flying above this line.

Why the Karman Line is Important

Although the Karman Line is Widely Considered to be 62 Miles In recent decades, it's not the first time that the border is disputed

But Why?

As space operations become more complex and countries begin to explore further from Earth, this invisible line could be a significant part. of space law and business practices. As Science Magazine points out, the United States even refuses to have a legal definition of space to avoid restrictions on their military activities at high altitude.

Defining an official boundary between the planet and the space of humanity navigates in the troubled waters of space exploration, particularly in the legal and commercial fields.