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Explainer: Where exactly does space begin?

Jeff Bezos set off in a rocket today – but did he actually go to space?

EARLIER TODAY, THE wealthiest man on the planet Jeff Bezos flew to and from the edge of space in his own rocket. 

Bezos’ company Blue Origin flew a rocket just above the Karman line – a commonly referenced definition for the boundary between Earth and space.

Earlier this month, billionaire Richard Branson also flew to the edge of space – but his rocket strayed just below this line.

However, there is no set limit for the edge of space and experts differ on where the boundary is established.

What do most experts say about the edge of space?

There is no universal acceptance for where space begins but the World Air Sports Federation (FAI) uses the Karman line, which sets the boundary at 100km/62 miles above sea level.  

The FAI stewards definitions for spaceflight. However, the 100km figure is debated and many experts believe the boundary is closer than this. 

David Moore of Astronomy Ireland said the work of US astronomer Jonathan McDowell and others indicate that the limit “probably is closer to 80km” above sea level. 

He said people are weightless at 80-90km above sea level, the sky is fully black and you can see the curvature of the Earth. 

“In the aerospace industry it has always been a topic of conversation because Nasa and the US military were always awarding their people astronaut wings when they got above 80km,” Moore told The Journal.  

However, he said it “wasn’t really a big issue” in the past because humans were generally going further into the depths of space.

blue-origin-bezos Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket launching today. Tony Gutierrez Tony Gutierrez

The International Space Station, for example, is 400km above the Earth’s surface (for avid sky-watchers, Moore said the ISS is visible over Irish skies at night this week).

“It’s only when space tourist companies like Virgin Galactic and a few others [facilitate] people going up just as far as they need to get astronaut wings,” Moore said.

He believes the debate around the exact edge of space will become “a lot more important in the future” as space tourism grows.

pictures-of-the-week-north-america-photo-gallery Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson carries crew member Sirisha Bandla on his shoulders after they returned to Earth. Andres Leighton Andres Leighton

How far up did Bezos and Branson go?

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson took a trip to the edge of space on 11 July.

Branson’s space flight reached around 88km/55 miles above the Earth’s surface. Bezos today travelled around 106km/66 miles. 

This fuelled discussions of whether Branson technically travelled to space as his flight fell under the Karman line. 

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    Mute John Flood
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    Jul 20th 2021, 10:14 PM

    Exciting technology but please don’t call these passengers “astronauts”!

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    Mute Larry Betts
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    Jul 20th 2021, 10:23 PM

    @John Flood: Space cadets

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    Mute Sean Kirwan
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    Jul 20th 2021, 11:16 PM

    @John Flood: pretty sure anyone that leaves earth’s atmosphere is an astronaut.

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    Mute James Ward
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    Jul 21st 2021, 1:02 AM

    @Sean Kirwan: That’s what the discussion is about – both went above the original Karman line where aeronautics stop working (wing lift) and astronautics kick in (speed is needed), but way before a stable orbit. Like calling yourself an aeronaut because you took a flight to Spain, these guys were all exactly what passive human cargo always – passengers in an Astroplane/Rocket.

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    Mute William Tallon
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    Jul 20th 2021, 9:46 PM

    To the left of the ‘s’ and the right of the ‘e’?

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    Mute Larry Betts
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    Jul 20th 2021, 9:52 PM

    @William Tallon: orbit further than that

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    Mute William Tallon
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    Jul 20th 2021, 10:04 PM

    @Larry Betts: A pretty sharpish reply there! Your definitely keen on these puns. Sharp as well, sharper than a newly sharpened edge even…

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    Mute Larry Betts
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    Jul 20th 2021, 10:21 PM

    @William Tallon: Sharper than a sharpened talon I would suggest

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    Mute William Tallon
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    Jul 20th 2021, 10:31 PM

    @Larry Betts: They don’t come much sharper…

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    Mute Paul Gorry
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    Jul 20th 2021, 10:35 PM

    @William Tallon: I can categorically state that no one on the journal is as sharp as Larry betts lol. Him excellent.

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    Mute Larry Betts
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    Jul 20th 2021, 10:37 PM

    @Paul Gorry: Thanks for your recommendation. PG tips are always welcome

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    Mute Paul Gorry
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    Jul 20th 2021, 10:39 PM

    @Larry Betts: ye see this is what I mean! The proof is in the pudding ha ha.

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    Mute Mick Tobin
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    Jul 20th 2021, 11:14 PM

    Perhaps in order to reach space you need to risk burning up in the earth’s atmosphere in order to return, and if this is the case then neither Branson nor Bezos pulled it off, and likely it’s Elon Musk who’s biding his time, to eventually put people into a one-round orbit to claim the ultimate and perhaps only fair prize of the first real tourist space trip.

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    Mute Tony Gordon
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    Jul 20th 2021, 11:43 PM

    @Mick Tobin: and if an orbit is what’s required, then you’d have to rewrite the history books (Shepard and Glenn didn’t make it)

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    Mute John Considine
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    Jul 21st 2021, 12:14 AM

    @Mick Tobin: Mark my words, Musk intends to orbit the moon on his first flight. He won’t land or anything, that’s been sold to NASA for 2024, but I strongly suspect he’ll go up in one of the earlier orbital missions.

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    Mute Mick Tobin
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    Jul 21st 2021, 12:17 AM

    @Tony Gordon: Well maybe we can distinguish between different classes of astronauts, e.g. class N (Nasa 80km line – Brandon), class K (Karman 100km line – Bezos), and class O (completing at least one orbit).

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jul 21st 2021, 12:43 AM

    @John Considine: from such humble beginnings in apartheid South Africa. A true embodiment of the American dream

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    Mute Teddy Bear
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    Jul 21st 2021, 8:20 AM

    @John Considine: what do you mean by sold?

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    Mute Vincent Bickerstaffe
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    Jul 20th 2021, 9:40 PM

    Anyone know what the Edge of Earth is?

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    Mute Liam McDonald
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    Jul 20th 2021, 9:42 PM

    @Vincent Bickerstaffe: Leitrim

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jul 20th 2021, 9:46 PM

    @Vincent Bickerstaffe: near Bono usually

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    Mute pkunzip doom2.zip
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    Jul 20th 2021, 9:47 PM

    @Vincent Bickerstaffe: Longford is outer space

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    Mute Vincent Bickerstaffe
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    Jul 20th 2021, 9:50 PM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: aha..good one..

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    Mute Vincent Bickerstaffe
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    Jul 20th 2021, 9:51 PM

    @Vincent Bickerstaffe: 10:45.. ISS flying over head

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    Mute Tony Gordon
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    Jul 20th 2021, 11:41 PM

    @Vincent Bickerstaffe: technically falling not flying

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    Mute Phil Redmond
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    Jul 21st 2021, 7:26 AM

    @Vincent Bickerstaffe: It’s round. It doesn’t have an edge or am I not allowed say that in case I offend some flat earth nutcase

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    Mute Matt
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    Jul 20th 2021, 10:32 PM

    Who cares its not relevant

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    Mute Mick Tobin
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    Jul 21st 2021, 2:13 AM

    @Matt: Not relevant to what? It’s obviously relevant to your online presence since you cared to comment.

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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Jul 20th 2021, 9:55 PM

    Down the back of the sofa?

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    Mute alan hickey
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    Jul 21st 2021, 2:52 AM

    Bezos comes across as an as hole compared t Branson

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    Mute David Dineen
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    Jul 20th 2021, 9:41 PM

    Your about two weeks too late, this debate was had when Branson blasted off to space,

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jul 20th 2021, 9:54 PM

    @David Dineen: pretty sure the edge of space existed before July 2021. It does in fact exist but its hard to define. That’s why there’s a 20km discrepancy, huge if you’re going point to point on a map but when you’re going up 20km is almost literally nothing

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    Mute Ken Loughman
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    Jul 21st 2021, 2:12 PM

    I cannot help but post this:

    https://youtu.be/lYSOmYyNHpU

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    Mute Linus Robin
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    Jul 21st 2021, 4:49 AM

    It’s wherever the Lord JB says it is I suppose.

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    Mute Steve O'Hara-Smith
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    Jul 21st 2021, 10:28 AM

    Regardless of where you put the arbitrary line I would say that you need to achieve orbit to be anything other than an over extended vomit comet flight. This is no more access to space than pole vaulting is access to high places.

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    Mute Life in no motion
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    Jul 21st 2021, 11:55 AM

    Two billionaires comparing the length of their rockets and how far they reach

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    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
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    Jul 21st 2021, 11:46 AM

    Just outside Ballyhaunis.

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