The Astronauts You Thought Went to Space Didn't Quite Leave Our Atmosphere

When we reminisce about iconic astronauts like Yuri Gagarin, Neil Armstrong, and Valentina Tereshkova, we often assume they ventured far beyond Earth's atmosphere. Yet, here's a shocker: none of them truly escaped it! It’s a common misconception that the International Space Station (ISS) resides in outer space; in reality, it's merely a few hundred miles above Earth, still within the grasp of our atmosphere.

An Atmospheric Illusion: NASA's Eye-Opening Explanation

Doug Rowland, a NASA heliophysics expert, sheds light on this fascinating dilemma. He explains that Earth's atmosphere extends far above us, way beyond the heights of mountain peaks or airplane altitudes, gradually thinning as one ascends. Remarkably, even at the altitude of the ISS, there's enough residual air to create drag, meaning that without periodic boosts from rockets, it would inevitably descend back to Earth!

Redefining the Edge of Space: The Kármán Line