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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01:02
NASA's Perseverance rover captures Martian moon Phobos transit the sun - Real-time view!
Added 35 Views / 0 LikesThe Perseverance Mars rover's Mastcam-Z camera the Martian moon Phobos transit the Sun on Feb. 8, 2024. See real-time and time-lapsed views here. Credit: Space.com | NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS/SSI | edited by [Steve Spaleta](https://twitter.com/stevespalet
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02:09
NASA's Perseverance rover has 'swiss army knife' instrument and microphone
Added 302 Views / 0 LikesNASA's Mars 2020 rover Perseverance Supercam instrument is being compared to a 'swiss army knife.' The rover will also be able to listen to mars with a microphone. -- Getting 2020 Mars Rover Mic'd Up: Q&A with Musician Jason Achilles Mezilis: https://www.
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01:07
NASA's Perseverance rover spots Mars helicopter Ingenuity after its final flight
Added 39 Views / 0 LikesThe NASA Perseverance rover's left Mastcam-Z camera captured an image of Mars helicopter Ingenuity on Feb. 4, 2024. The little Red Planet chopper flew for the 72nd and final time on Jan. 18 after sustaining damage to its rotor blades. Credit: Space.com |
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00:44
NASA's Psyche spacecraft's massive solar arrays installed
Added 57 Views / 0 LikesSolar array wings were permanently installed on NASA's Psyche spacecraft at at Astrotech Space Operations in Florida. The spacecraft will travel to metal-rich asteroid Psyche and will be powered by the 37 feet (11.3 meters) long solar array wings. Credit:
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10:09
NASA's quest to Touch the Sun! part 1 - The Hero's Journey
Added 446 Views / 0 LikesAre you ready for an epic adventure?God bless everyone,Thttps://www.paypal.me/THORnewsTshirtshttps://hitthebuttonbaby.com/THORNEWS PO BOX 35946HOUSTON TEXAS77235-5946article on the Parker Probe Missionhttps://blogs.nasa.gov/parkersolarprobe/2018/07/24/par
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02:20
NASA's Record-Breaking Mission To Asteroid Bennu - Highlights
Added 322 Views / 0 LikesNASA's OSIRIS-REx mission to Asteroid Bennu has broken records and delivered amazing imagery of the space rock. -- Learn More About the Mission: https://www.space.com/33776-osiris-rex.htmlCredit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
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02:54
NASA's return to Venus with DAVINCI mission explained
Added 161 Views / 0 LikesNASA's Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble-gases, Chemistry and Imaging + (DAVINCI+) mission will carry a suite of instruments and a descent probe to study the planet. Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
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01:33
NASA's Robonaut 2 Performs Telemedicine
Added 678 Views / 0 LikesNASA is training Robonaut 2 in telemedicine, hoping that one day the robot (controlled by humans) could administer care to astronauts flying aboard the International Space Station.
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09:55
NASA's Space Launch System RS-25 Engine Test Fired | Video
Added 614 Views / 0 LikesNASA's Space Launch System RS-25 Engine Test Fired | Video
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02:42
NASA's Spacewalk 'Bonanza' Includes 1st All-Female Spacewalk
Added 431 Views / 0 LikesNASA Astronaut Office Deputy Chief Megan McArthur talks about 10 spacewalks coming up for the International Space Station crew. One of the spacewalks will be conducted by Christina Koch and Jessica Meir. Story: 1st All-Female Spacewalk Is Back on As NASA
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06:41
NASA's SpaceX Crew-6 docks with space station - Mission Control Audio
Added 77 Views / 0 LikesThe SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavor, carrying NASA astronauts Warren "Woody" Hoburg and Stephen Bowen, the United Arab Emirates' Sultan Al-Neyadi, and Andrey Fedyaev of Russian space agency Roscosmos aboard, docked with the International Space Station on Marc
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01:51
NASA's SpaceX Crew-7 astronaut talks shooting auroras on space station
Added 72 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX Crew-7 astronaut Andreas Mogensen talks about photographing auroras from the International Space Station. Mogensen is ESA's first Danish astronaut and last flew to the ISS in 2015. Full Story: https://www.space.com/international-space-station-auror
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08:30
NASA's SpaceX Crew-7 begins stay at space station with welcome ceremony
Added 64 Views / 0 LikesNASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen; Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa and Konstantin Borisov of Russia's space agency (Roscosmos) are welcomed aboard the the International Space Station in a c
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09:47
NASA's SpaceX Crew-7 docks with the International Space Station
Added 77 Views / 0 LikesA Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying four NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen; Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa and Konstantin Borisov of Russia's space agency (Roscosmos) docked with the Interna
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08:03
NASA's SpaceX Crew-7 enters International Space Station after docking
Added 68 Views / 0 LikesNASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen; Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa and Konstantin Borisov of Russia's space agency (Roscosmos) completed ingress into the International Space Station shortly
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08:11
NASA's SpaceX Crew-7 undocks from ISS, mission control explains with live views unavailable
Added 36 Views / 0 LikesNASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa and Konstantin Borisov of Russia's space agency (Roscosmos) are on their way back to Earth after undocking from the Intern
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27:16
NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 astronauts and cosmonaut arrive in Florida ahead of launch
Added 37 Views / 0 LikesCommander Matthew Dominick, pilot Michael Barratt, mission specialists Jeanette Epps and Aleksandr Grebenkin arrived at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Feb. 25, 2024. They are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station on March 1. Credi
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08:05
NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 enters International Space Station after docking
Added 38 Views / 0 LikesCommander Matthew Dominick, pilot Michael Barratt, mission specialists Jeanette Epps and Aleksandr Grebenkin have arrived at the International Space Station after docking on March 5, 2024. Credit: NASA