With data from a new instrument developed by scientists at the University of Calgary, scientists confirmed that space begins 118 kilometres above Earth's surface.
Where does space begin? Scientists at the University of Calgary have created a new instrument that is able to track 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 1000 km/hr. And they have accomplished this in unprecedented detail. Data received from the U of C-designed instrument sent to space on a NASA launch from Alaska about two years ago was able to help pinpoint the so-called edge of space: the boundary between the Earth's atmosphere and outer space.
An instrument called Supra-Thermal Ion Imager was able to pinpoint the so-called edge of space: the boundary between the Earth's atmosphere and outer space. Space begins 118 km above Earth.
Starting today at 3:29 a.m., four NASA rockets launched rom Poker Flat Research Range into an aurora display over northern Alaska. Scientists hope to learn more about electrical heating of the thin atmosphere from about 60 to 120 miles above Earth’s surface with the launch of these rockets. The project is called JOULE II. Staff at Poker Flat Research Range, located north of Fairbanks, coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure that airspace was secure before launching all rockets. Each rocket’s flight lasted about 12 minutes and all rockets performed as planned, flying to their desired locations in space, with precision greater than 95 percent.
Although ample auroral displays were visible beginning at sundown Thursday, scientists at Poker Flat pulled an all-nighter, waiting until 3:29 a.m. Friday to launch four research rockets.
"We wanted the (electrical) current to be in the right place" - Miguel Larsen, a professor at Clemson University, and the principal investigator for project JOULE II.
Larsen explained that rocket trajectory is fixed and launching was delayed until the aurora display was in the most opportune position to collect data. The rockets, two Terrier Orions, a Black Brant V and a Black Brant IX, were launched in two pairs, 15 to 20 minutes apart.