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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)

 

  • 01:11 Sun's X-Ray Flare Throws Earth High Proton Flux | Video

    Sun's X-Ray Flare Throws Earth High Proton Flux | Video

    by shub Added 626 Views / 0 Likes

    On 19 November 2013, sunspot AR1897 erupted with an X1 solar flare. A wave of ionization was recorded in the upper atmosphere over Europe, Africa and part of Asia, according to Spaceweather.com. Read more about it here: http://goo.gl/6SfaJf

  • 01:11 ESA Unveils Spherical Mars Sample Return Container | Video

    ESA Unveils Spherical Mars Sample Return Container | Video

    by shub Added 650 Views / 0 Likes

    The container is engineered to carry 11 receptacles, store them under 14˚F (-10˚C), and weigh less than 11lbs (5kg). It will land on Mars with a sample providing rover. When it is filled, it will launch and rendezvous with a return-trip spacecraft.

  • 03:42 Air Force Launches Record 29 Satellites On One Rocket | Video

    Air Force Launches Record 29 Satellites On One Rocket | Video

    by shub Added 668 Views / 0 Likes

    The U.S. Air Force's Operationally Responsive Space Office's ORS-3 mission was launched from NASA Wallops in Virginia on Nov. 19, 2013. It carried the Space Test Program Satellite-3 (STPSat-3) and 28 cubesat satellites (some student built).

  • 04:39 15 Years Of Space Station Science And Construction - Highlight Video

    15 Years Of Space Station Science And Construction - Highlight Video

    by shub Added 619 Views / 0 Likes

    The first module (Zvezda) launched in 1998 and the station was completed in 2011. To date, over 1500 science experiments, 139 flights have been made by 68 partnering countries. Read more about the anniversart here; http://goo.gl/1PZmuH

  • 05:20 Adjusting To Life Back On Earth - Karen Nyberg Talks To SPACE.com | Video

    Adjusting To Life Back On Earth - Karen Nyberg Talks To SPACE.com | Video

    by shub Added 620 Views / 0 Likes

    The recently returned to Earth NASA astronaut talks about adjusting to gravity and her time on the International Space Station with SPACE.com's @MiriKramer. Read more here: http://goo.gl/PzettR

  • 09:59 Why Is Space Station Important? NASA's Bob Cabana Explains | Video

    Why Is Space Station Important? NASA's Bob Cabana Explains | Video

    by shub Added 624 Views / 0 Likes

    The Kennedy Space Center's Director (and former astronaut) shares his memories of building the International Space Station with SPACE.com's @MiriKramer and talks about its accomplishments.

  • 02:39 How Space Station Is Helping Farmers Grow Crops | Video

    How Space Station Is Helping Farmers Grow Crops | Video

    by shub Added 675 Views / 0 Likes

    Cameras aboard the International Space Station are delivering much need information to farmers for maintaining their crops. A farmer from Minnesota explains the benefits.

  • 02:03 How The Sun Cooks Comets | Video

    How The Sun Cooks Comets | Video

    by shub Added 563 Views / 0 Likes

    NASA explains how a comet goes through the process of sublimation as it nears the Sun.

  • 00:56 Most Brilliant Explosion In the Universe - Gamma-Ray Burst Animation

    Most Brilliant Explosion In the Universe - Gamma-Ray Burst Animation

    by shub Added 697 Views / 0 Likes

    When a massive star runs out of nuclear fuel, it collapses under its own weight and forms a black hole. The black hole shoots jets of particles through the star at nearly the speed of light and astronomers believe they create the gamma-ray bursts. Also av

  • 05:45 Thanksgiving in Space: Astronauts Share Their Cosmic Menu | Video

    Thanksgiving in Space: Astronauts Share Their Cosmic Menu | Video

    by shub Added 680 Views / 0 Likes

    On the ISS, NASA astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Mike Hopkins send down their best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving and their crewmates show off the station's galley where they will be preparing and enjoying a Thanksgiving meal.

  • 01:02 Comets ISON and Enke Enter STEREO Probe Field of View | Video

    Comets ISON and Enke Enter STEREO Probe Field of View | Video

    by shub Added 625 Views / 0 Likes

    As the possible 'comet of the century' (ISON) nears the Sun, it has come within the viewing range of the NASA Sun observing satellite. Earth, Mercury and the further away Comet Enke were all visible to the spacecraft on Nov. 21, 2013. (looped). All things

  • 02:29 LADEE Starts Science Operations From Lunar Orbit | Video

    LADEE Starts Science Operations From Lunar Orbit | Video

    by shub Added 705 Views / 0 Likes

    Launched September 6th, LADEE has been orbiting the Moon for weeks while diagnostics confirmed it's scientific instruments were working correctly, allowing it to begin analyzing the Moon's extremely thin exosphere.

  • 02:45 Commercial Space Program Closer To Human Transport | Video

    Commercial Space Program Closer To Human Transport | Video

    by shub Added 652 Views / 0 Likes

    With the success of the SpaceX and Orbital Sciences spacecrafts, NASA is looking forward to sending humans to low-Earth orbit with commercial partners.

  • 10:25 How To Deploy Tiny Satellites From Space Station | Video

    How To Deploy Tiny Satellites From Space Station | Video

    by shub Added 660 Views / 0 Likes

    JAXA's ISS Program Manager Masazumi Miyake explains how 3 nanosatellites (aka cubesats) were deployed from the Japanese 'Kibo' Experimental Module on Nov. 19. 2013. Read more about it here: http://goo.gl/UGcX1M

  • 01:15 Can Comet ISON's Tail Survive Solar Storm? | Video

    Can Comet ISON's Tail Survive Solar Storm? | Video

    by shub Added 642 Views / 0 Likes

    In 2007, a coronal mass ejection from the Sun tore off Comet Enke's tail. As Comet ISON approaches its closest approach to the Sun, it could suffer the same fate. All things ISON here: http://goo.gl/rgQ0u6

  • 05:42 Latest ISS Supply Mission Blasts Off From Baikonur | Video

    Latest ISS Supply Mission Blasts Off From Baikonur | Video

    by shub Added 639 Views / 0 Likes

    The Progress 53 cargo ship successfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on a mission to resupply the International Space Station.

  • 01:51 Comet ISON's Fate - Three Possibilities Explained By NASA | Video

    Comet ISON's Fate - Three Possibilities Explained By NASA | Video

    by shub Added 691 Views / 0 Likes

    The manager of NASA's Near-Earth Object Program office Don Yeomans, explains what will be left, if anything, of the possible 'comet of the century' after its date with the Sun (Nov 27th, 2013). All things ISON here: http://goo.gl/rgQ0u6

  • 10:38 Where Will Comet ISON Go If It Survives? - Exclusive NASA Interview

    Where Will Comet ISON Go If It Survives? - Exclusive NASA Interview

    by shub Added 711 Views / 0 Likes

    NASA Scientist Dr. Michelle Thaller talks to SPACE.com's @TariqjMalik about the possible 'comet of the century' two days prior to its Nov. 28th, 2013 date with the Sun. All things ISON here: http://goo.gl/rgQ0u6

  • 01:01 Best Yet Comet ISON Footage From STEREO Released | Video

    Best Yet Comet ISON Footage From STEREO Released | Video

    by shub Added 682 Views / 0 Likes

    NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft has had its eyes set on the comet for the past few days and has delivered the best time-lapse to date. Comet ISON and the smaller Comet Enke, along with Earth and Mercury can be seen. (looped 3X) All things ISON here: http://goo

  • 08:28 Thanksgiving On Space Station: What's On The Menu? | Video

    Thanksgiving On Space Station: What's On The Menu? | Video

    by shub Added 635 Views / 0 Likes

    Food scientist Vickie Kloeris gives SPACE.com's @MiriKramer the run down on the food that the ISS crew will be eating on Thanksgiving 2013.

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