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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01:12
SpaceX Starship SN20's six engines fired up in test
Added 292 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX conducted a static fire and preburner test on Nov. 12, 2021 at their Boca Chica, Texas facility. Credit: Space.com | footage courtesy: [SPadre.com](https://twitter.com/SpacePadreIsle) | produced & edited by [Steve Spaleta](http://www.twitter.com/st
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01:11
SpaceX Starship SN3 collapses during pressure test
Added 437 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX's Starship SN3 prototype failed during a pressure test on April 2, 2020. Full Story https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn3-pressure-test-failure.htmlOn Twitter, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said it "may have been a test configuration mistake. Some valve
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01:08
SpaceX Starship SN3 hoisted onto test stand in time-lapse video
Added 454 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX Starship SN3 prototype was lifted onto a test stand at the private spaceflight company's Boca Chica, Texas facility on March 29, 2020. -- SpaceX unveils users' guide for giant Starship rocket: https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-transportation-sy
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01:05
SpaceX Starship SN4 gets Raptor engine, prepped for static fire test
Added 484 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX is prepping the Starship SN4 prototype for a static fire test at their facility in Boca Chica, TX. It was loaded with propellant on the evening of May 3-4 and more tests will occur the evening of May 4-5. Credit: Space.com / footage courtesy: SPadr
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01:17
SpaceX Starship SN4 rolled out for testing in time-lapse video
Added 449 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX Starship SN4 prototype was moved for testing at the private spaceflight company's Boca Chica, Texas facility on April 23, 2020. [SpaceX unveils users' guide for giant Starship rocket](https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-transportation-system-user
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00:57
SpaceX Starship SN4's engine test fired again
Added 420 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX conducted a static fire test of their SpaceX Starship SN4 prototype's Raptor engine on May 28, 2020 at their Boca Chica, Texas facility. Credit: SPadre.com (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTDiD965A_s)
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01:14
SpaceX Starship SN4's rocket engine test-fired
Added 486 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX Starship SN4 prototype's raptor engine was test fired on May 6, 2020 at the private spaceflight company's Boca Chica, TX facility. Full Story: https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn4-engine-static-fire-test.htmlCredit: SPadre Cam (https://www.you
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01:22
SpaceX Starship SN5 prototype takes first hop - Test-flight video
Added 422 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX completed a test flight of the Starship SN5 prototype at their Boca Chica, Texas facility on Aug. 4, 2020. Credit: SPadre Cam (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCnl4IZOPe0) / mash mix by Space.com's Steve Spaleta (http://www.twitter.com/stevespaleta
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01:06
SpaceX Starship SN5 rocket prototype test fired ahead of first hop
Added 404 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX conducted a "static fire" test of the Starship SN5 rocket prototype's raptor engine on July 30, 2020 at their Boca Chica, Texas facility. A 150 meter test flight is the next step for the prototype. Full Story: https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-
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01:34
SpaceX Starship SN6 prototype takes 150 meter hop
Added 334 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX' Starship SN6 prototype took a hop on Sept. 3, 2020 from the private spacefight company's Boca Chica, Texas facility. Credit: SPadre Cam (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCnl4IZOPe0) - mash mix by Space.com's Steve Spaleta (http://www.twitter.com/s
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01:08
SpaceX Starship SN7 tank bursts during pressure test
Added 395 Views / 0 LikesPressure testing of a SpaceX Starship SN7 tank ended in its destruction on June 23, 2020 in Boca Chica, Texas. Credit: SPadre Cam (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTDiD965A_s) / mash mix by Space.com's Steve Spaleta (http://www.twitter.com/stevespaleta)
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07:19
SpaceX Starship SN9 soars in test flight, has explosive landing
Added 290 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX launched the Starship SN9 prototype to an altitude of about 10 kilometers on its only test flight. It was destroyed during its landing attempt. -- Full Story: https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn9-test-flight-launch-explosionCredit: SpaceX
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01:22
SpaceX Starship to launch again! Get hyped up with program highlights
Added 136 Views / 0 LikesAs SpaceX prepares for the next integrated test flight of Starship, take a look back at some of the highlights from the program. When is the next launch? learn more: https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-flight-3-launch-what-timeCredit: SpaceX
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04:30
SpaceX Starship Update - Moon, Mars, Saturn..and Aliens? - Elon Musk Explains
Added 489 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX CEO Elon Musk talks about the company's goals, including a Moon base, a city on Mars and visits to Saturn with Starship. He also talks aliens. Story: Elon Musk Unveils SpaceX's New Starship Plans for Private Trips to the Moon, Mars and Beyond: http
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01:25
SpaceX Starship vs. Millennium Falcon in Size Comparison - Elon Musk Explains
Added 479 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX Starship and its Super Heavy booster will be 118 meters (387 feet) tall when stacked. In comparison, 'Star Wars' Millennium Falcon is 34.75 (118 feet) meter long. Credit: SpaceX
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00:53
SpaceX Starship's 4th launch! #timelapse #spacexlaunch #elonmusk #reentry
Added 111 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX launched Starship on its 4th test flight on June 6, 2024. Watch the launch and reentry time-lapse featuring the the song "Summer Camp" from Logan Spaleta: https://found.ee/loganspaletasummercamp
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07:10
SpaceX Starship's 5 Engines and Heat Shield - Elon Musk Explains
Added 423 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX CEO Elon Musk explained the engines and heat shield of Starship on Sept. 28, 2019. Story: Elon Musk Unveils SpaceX's New Starship Plans for Private Trips to the Moon, Mars and Beyond: https://www.space.com/elon-musk-unveils-spacex-starship-2019-upd
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01:07
SpaceX Starship's flight 5 Super Heavy booster moved to the pad
Added 107 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX has moved the Starship flight 5 Super Heavy booster the launch pad at Starbase in Texas. It passed a "nearly complete Starfactory on its way," according to SpaceX. Credit: Space.com | footage: SpaceX | edited by [Steve Spaleta](https://x.com/steves
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02:51
SpaceX Starship's Orbital Refilling is 'Very Important' - Elon Musk Explains
Added 430 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX's Starship will need to be refueled when it reaches orbit to explore beyond the tug of Earth's gravity. Elon Musk explains. Story: Elon Musk Unveils SpaceX's New Starship Plans for Private Trips to the Moon, Mars and Beyond: https://www.space.com/e
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00:57
SpaceX Starship's Raptor Flight Engine Test-Fired For First Time
Added 529 Views / 0 LikesIn early February 2019, SpaceX successfully test-fired their Starship Raptor flight engine for the first time. -- Read More: https://www.space.com/43218-spacex-raptor-rocket-engine-test-video.htmlCredit: Space.com / footage & imagery courtesy: Space.com /