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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Asteroid Threat: Cutting Through Red Tape To Save The World | Video
Added 677 Views / 0 LikesB612 Foundation CEO and fmr. NASA astronaut Ed Lu talks about why an infrared space telescope is needed to search for hundreds of thousands of undocumented near-Earth asteroids and why they are doing it privately. More here: http://goo.gl/CX5Sgd
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Prototype Morpheus Lander Soars In First Free Flight | Video
Added 677 Views / 0 LikesOn 10 December 2013, a lander that uses NASA automated landing tech, conducted a free-flight in which it flew forward and landed 23 feet from its launch point. It could be used deliver cargo to asteroid and other planetary surfaces.
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NASA's Robonaut 2 Performs Telemedicine
Added 677 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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Curiosity Sees Earth and Moon From Mars | Video
Added 677 Views / 0 LikesThe Mars Science Laboratory captured imagery of the brightest object in its twilight sky, Earth and its orbiting Moon. The rover's Mast Camera imaged them on January 31st, 2014, its 529th day on the Red Planet. Read more about it here: http://goo.gl/oTrCZ
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Spiral Galaxy's 'Guts' Blown Out Into Space | Video
Added 677 Views / 0 LikesGalaxy cluster Abell 3627 super-heated winds are stripping away gas from spiral galaxy ESO 137-001. The process known as ram pressure stripping is not affecting any of the spiral's stars but will hamper its ability to create new ones.
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No Limits: Canada's Astronauts Climb, Test, Fly, And Explore | Video
Added 677 Views / 0 LikesWhether it's surviving in the harshest environments on the planet or testing innovative technologies, there are no limits for Canada's Astronauts.
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Blast-Off! Express Delivery To Space Station En-Route | Video
Added 677 Views / 0 LikesThe ISS Progress 55 resupply craft launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on April 9th, 2014. The 3 tons of food, fuel and gear on board will reach the Station in about 6 hours. Read more: http://goo.gl/jIMJG1
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Strange Holes In Venus' Atmosphere Investigated | Video
Added 677 Views / 0 LikesStrange Holes In Venus' Atmosphere Investigated | Video
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WTF Rainbow Jupiter? Jupiter bursts into Rainbows!
Added 677 Views / 0 LikesWTF Rainbow Jupiter? Jupiter bursts into Rainbows!
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Doing Your Nails and Hair in Space - Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti’s Tips | Video
Added 677 Views / 0 LikesDoing Your Nails and Hair in Space - Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti’s Tips | Video
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NASA discovers an illegal Planet made of Marijuana!
Added 677 Views / 0 LikesNASA discovers an illegal Planet made of Marijuana!
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Curiosity’s 3 Year Martian Road-Trip Tells Tantalizing Tales Of Water | Video
Added 677 Views / 0 LikesCuriosity’s 3 Year Martian Road-Trip Tells Tantalizing Tales Of Water | Video
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2007 OR10 - Possible Dwarf Planet - ZORRO! - Tyrion. or Snow White?
Added 677 Views / 0 Likes2007 OR10 - Possible Dwarf Planet - ZORRO! - Tyrion. or Snow White?
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Moon Buzzer Halloween Asteroid TB145 is a UFO
Added 677 Views / 0 LikesMoon Buzzer Halloween Asteroid TB145 is a UFO
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Space to Ground: Home For The Holidays : 12/11/2015
Added 677 Views / 0 LikesSpace to Ground: Home For The Holidays : 12/11/2015
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Cygnus Departs Station after Robotic Release
Added 677 Views / 0 LikesCygnus Departs Station after Robotic Release
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Space Station Live: Expedition 47 Science Update
Added 677 Views / 0 LikesSpace Station Live: Expedition 47 Science Update
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Mercury Transit 2016 - Spacecraft View In Different Wavelength | Video
Added 677 Views / 0 LikesMercury Transit 2016 - Spacecraft View In Different Wavelength | Video
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Artist’s impression video of the exotic binary star system AR Scorpii
Added 677 Views / 0 LikesArtist’s impression video of the exotic binary star system AR Scorpii