Outer Space & Universe
Outer Space & Universe
Space, also known as outer space, is the near-vacuum between celestial bodies. It is where everything (all of the planets, stars, galaxies and other objects) is found.
On Earth, space begins at the Kármán line (100 km above sea level). This is where Earth's atmosphere is said to stop and outer space begins. This is not a firm boundary but is a convention used by scientists and diplomats.
Items in space are free to move back and forth; up and down; and left and right. These three dimensions are what make 3D space. Items also move forward through time, which is sometimes called the fourth dimension.
The majority of space contains very little matter and so most of it is a vacuum. Scientists do not know how big space is but we do know that space is extremely big, and is always expanding.
According to the big bang theory, all matter and energy in the Universe was compressed into a very small space. Then it exploded and started expanding. Space is still growing in size today; this means the distance from one galaxy to distant galaxies is getting longer.
Gravity is the force that keeps the Moon in orbit around the Earth and the planets in orbit around the Sun. Gravity can stretch and bend space similar to how a heavy ball placed on a stretched sheet of rubber will cause the rubber to stretch. The scientist who discovered that space can bend is named Albert Einstein. How gravity bends space is part of his theory of general relativity.
Astronauts, Cosmonauts, Taikonauts and Spationauts
An astronaut is any person who is trained by NASA to travel and perform tasks in space. Although the space traveler may not necessarily be a United States citizen, each astronaut does go through a rigorous training regiment by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Other space travelers go by other names then astronaut depending on their country of origin.
In the United States, astronaut is derived from the Greek words ástron (star) and nautis (sailor). While, in Russia, a space traveler goes by the name космонавт (English: cosmonaut), which is derived from the Greek words kosmos (universe) and nautis (sailor). Westerners call a space traveler from China a taikonaut, based on the 1998 writings of Chiew Lee Yik and Chen Lan where the term tàikōng (great emptiness), Chinese for “space”. In China, the term yuháng yuán (universe navigator) is used for space traveler.
Only the United States of America (United States), Russia (earlier, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), and the People’s Republic of China (China) have sent manned spacecraft into space. Other countries have assisted these countries by sending their own space travelers on space missions. For instance, a French space traveler is called a spationaut (from the French word spationaute), which is derived from the Latin spatium (space) and Greek nautis (sailor). (plural in Greek nautes = sailors)
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05:37
NASA astronaut Leland Melvin talks dogs and new Varsity Tutors course
Added 57 Views / 0 LikesSpace.com's Elizabeth Howell and her dog Geordi talk with retired NASA astronaut Leland Melvin and his dogs Zorro and Roux in this exclusive interview. Full Story: https://www.space.com/nasa-astronaut-leland-melvin-black-history-education-dogs-courseCredi
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03:02
NASA Astronaut Mark Vande Hei Arrives in Houston
Added 150 Views / 0 LikesAfter a record-setting 355-day mission to the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei arrives to Ellington Field in Houston on Thursday, March 31 following his return to Earth on Wednesday, March 30. Vande Hei now holds the record for t
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02:21
NASA Astronaut Mark Vande Hei on setting the record for longest single spaceflight for an American
Added 160 Views / 0 LikesWith the plans for Russian spaceflight participants to visit the International Space Station as part of the MS-19 Soyuz crew in October 2021, NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov will remain aboard the station until March 202
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01:01
NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson #SuitUp Video
Added 438 Views / 0 LikesNASA astronaut Peggy Whitson #SuitUp Video
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00:45
NASA astronaut returns after months on station conducting science
Added 17 Views / 0 LikesAfter six exciting months aboard the space station, NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara is scheduled to return on Apr 6. While aboard the orbiting laboratory, O'Hara conducted dozens of science activities and technology demonstrations that benefit future explorat
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00:16
NASA Astronaut Returns Sesame Street Mementos Flown On Orion Spacecraft (Cookie Monster's Cookie)
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NASA Astronaut Returns Sesame Street Mementos Flown On Orion Spacecraft (Ernie's Rubber Ducky)
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NASA Astronaut Returns Sesame Street Mementos Flown On Orion Spacecraft (Grover's Cape)
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NASA Astronaut Returns Sesame Street Mementos Flown On Orion Spacecraft (Slimey The Worm)
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04:25
NASA astronaut takes manual control of SpaceX Crew Dragon for 1st time
Added 332 Views / 0 LikesNASA astronaut Doug Hurley took manual control of the SpaceX Crew Dragon while on orbit on May 30, 2020. Hurley used the touchscreen display to control the spacecraft, similar to the simulation SpaceX recently released. Find out how to play the simulator
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03:25
NASA Astronaut Talks 'Overview Effect' and More - Jessica Meir Interview
Added 367 Views / 0 LikesNASA astronaut Jessica Meir is heading to the International Space Station soon. She gives her thoughts on the "Overview Effect" and more to Space.com's Chelsea Gohd. Related: Astronauts Will Fix Ailing Dark Matter Experiment on Space Station: https://www.
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03:51
NASA Astronaut Talks Going to Space on First Mission
Added 383 Views / 0 LikesNASA astronaut Serena M. Auñón-Chancellor talks with Space.com’s Hanneke Weitering a few weeks prior to her first International Space Station mission.Credit: Space.com/NASA/produced and edited by Steve Spaleta
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09:41
NASA astronaut talks life in quarantine in Russia prior to his launch
Added 284 Views / 0 LikesNASA astronaut Chris Cassidy is getting ready to fly to the International Space Station amid the global health crisis. He talks with Willam Harwood from CBS News about what life is like for him in Russia at this time. Credit: NASA
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16:24
NASA Astronaut Tracy C. Dyson Training Resource Reel
Added 29 Views / 0 LikesNASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson trains for her upcoming mission to the International Space Station. It will be her third trip to space overall, and her second long-duration mission to the International Space Station. Dyson will launch on the Roscosmos Soyuz
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01:28
NASA Astronauts
Added 143 Views / 0 LikesFor more than 60 years, NASA's astronauts have continued to inspire the world with their selfless pursuit of exploration and discovery.______________________________________FOLLOW THE SPACE STATION!Twitter: https://twitter.com/Space_StationFacebook: https
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NASA astronauts begin spacewalk to prep ISS for solar array upgrades
Added 145 Views / 0 LikesSpacewalking Expedition 66 astronauts Kayla Barron and Raja Chari have begun "work for solar array upgrades for the station’s 3A power channel," according to NASA. Live Updates: https://www.space.com/news/live/international-space-station-live-updatesCredi
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01:55
NASA astronauts conduct spacewalk for more battery swaps
Added 268 Views / 0 LikesNASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Chris Cassidy are currently spacewalking to place old batterie outside the International Space Station. Watch Live! (https://www.space.com/17933-nasa-television-webcasts-live-space-tv.html)Credit: NASA
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04:34
NASA astronauts explain nonverbal communication in space
Added 117 Views / 0 LikesNASA astronauts Kayla Barron and Raja Chari describe how nonverbal communication in employed on the International Space Station.Credit: NASA
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04:30
NASA Astronauts Read Fan Mail
Added 344 Views / 0 LikesWe’re thankful for YOU! In the spirit of Thanksgiving, our astronauts took time to answer some great questions from fan mail they received. Find out what it’s like to be an astronaut and travel to space. Happy Thanksgiving to all, and keep sending us your
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02:08
NASA astronauts strapped into SpaceX Crew Dragon ahead of 2nd launch attempt
Added 415 Views / 0 LikesNASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley were strapped into the Crew Dragon spacecraft shortly after arriving at pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They are scheduled to launch today (May 30) at 3:22pm EDT (1922 GMT). -- SpaceX's historic