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)
-
03:49
Wall St. is so Shocked* & Scared* of Trump Presidency it is crashing*.
Added 634 Views / 0 LikesWall St. is so Shocked* & Scared* of Trump Presidency it is crashing*.
-
02:30
Cannibal 3 CME to Strike Earth on Election Day. Today! fixed
Added 574 Views / 0 LikesCannibal 3 CME to Strike Earth on Election Day. Today! fixed
-
04:52
'Mars: Our Future on the Red Planet' Explores Psychological Issues, More | Video
Added 569 Views / 0 Likes'Mars: Our Future on the Red Planet' Explores Psychological Issues, More | Video
-
02:56
Global Warming - Natural vs. Manmade Causes Compared By NASA | Video
Added 594 Views / 0 LikesGlobal Warming - Natural vs. Manmade Causes Compared By NASA | Video
-
01:00
Saturn's Moon Titan - Moving Methane Clouds Captured By Spacecraft | Video
Added 555 Views / 0 LikesSaturn's Moon Titan - Moving Methane Clouds Captured By Spacecraft | Video
-
02:25
Space to Ground: Picture Perfect Landing: 11/03/2016
Added 495 Views / 0 LikesSpace to Ground: Picture Perfect Landing: 11/03/2016
-
01:05
Curiosity Finds Iron-Nickel Meteorite On Mars | Video
Added 604 Views / 0 LikesCuriosity Finds Iron-Nickel Meteorite On Mars | Video
-
03:01
James Webb Space Telescope Facts You Need To Know | Video
Added 812 Views / 0 LikesJames Webb Space Telescope Facts You Need To Know | Video
-
15:22
Earth Family, Economics, Elections & the Future - THORnews Low-Fi update
Added 600 Views / 0 LikesEarth Family, Economics, Elections & the Future - THORnews Low-Fi update
-
04:22
James Webb Telescope's Marvelous Telescope Element Is Complete | Video
Added 664 Views / 0 LikesJames Webb Telescope's Marvelous Telescope Element Is Complete | Video
-
01:06
New Carina Nebula Image and 3D Animation Unveiled By ESO | Video
Added 573 Views / 0 LikesNew Carina Nebula Image and 3D Animation Unveiled By ESO | Video
-
06:06
Monthly ISS Research Video Update for October 2016
Added 535 Views / 0 LikesMonthly ISS Research Video Update for October 2016
-
03:39
National Geo's 'Mars' - Actor Ben Cotton Talks Tough Shooting Environments, More | Video
Added 540 Views / 0 LikesNational Geo's 'Mars' - Actor Ben Cotton Talks Tough Shooting Environments, More | Video
-
03:49
Expedition 50-51 Crew Departs for Kazakh Launch Site
Added 384 Views / 0 LikesExpedition 50-51 Crew Departs for Kazakh Launch Site
-
01:01
Moon Gets In Way Of NASA Spacecraft's Sun View | Video
Added 667 Views / 0 LikesMoon Gets In Way Of NASA Spacecraft's Sun View | Video
-
02:03
Rapidly Spinning 'Pumpkin' Stars Observed By NASA Missions | Video
Added 576 Views / 0 LikesRapidly Spinning 'Pumpkin' Stars Observed By NASA Missions | Video
-
02:52
Early 1960's NASA Audio Recordings Found and Digitized | Video
Added 447 Views / 0 LikesEarly 1960's NASA Audio Recordings Found and Digitized | Video