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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03:25
Dan Rather Hosts Latest Space Station Update Video
Added 647 Views / 0 LikesIn the latest episode of Space To Ground, the legendary anchor -- and son of Texas -- steps in to talk cargo crafts, the Olympic torch and station science.
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02:18
Space Station Bedroom Is 'Telephone Booth Tiny' | Video
Added 683 Views / 0 LikesJAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata takes you on a tour of the compact quarters aboard the International Space Station.
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06:17
Cosmonauts Break Spacewalk Record Attempting To Install Cameras | Video
Added 775 Views / 0 LikesTwo Russian Cosmonauts installed a pair of high-fidelity cameras outside the International Space Station but had to remove them after telemetry problems, resulting in a new record for the longest Russian space walk at 8 hours and 7 minutes.
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03:27
Space Station Treadmill - Running In Place On Orbit | Video
Added 681 Views / 0 LikesNASA astronaut Karen Nyberg demonstrates how the COLBERT treadmill works on the International Space Station.
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05:08
Help An Astronaut Make A Space Quilt | Video
Added 708 Views / 0 LikesNASA Astronaut Karen Nyberg is inviting quilters to create star inspired quilting squares like the one she made on the International Space Station. More from Karen Nyberg http://goo.gl/59uFSE
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01:35
Astronaut Uses Single Hair To Show Newton's Laws | Video
Added 762 Views / 0 LikesOn-orbit astronaut Karen Nyberg proves Cady Coleman told 'Gravity's Sandra Bullock the truth: a single strand of human hair pushed against a handrail aboard the ISS sprang Nyberg backwards in microgravity.
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02:35
Why Did Spacesuit Helmet Leak? - ISS Astronaut Explains | Video
Added 781 Views / 0 LikesNASA astronaut Chris Cassidy shows where water leaked, soaking spacewalker Luca Parmitano's head, during his July 16th, 2013 EVA. The event frightened the astronauts and mission controllers. NASA is still investigating the exact cause.
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01:33
Spacesuit Leak - Astronaut Reports Floating Water | Video
Added 789 Views / 0 LikesItalian astronaut Luca Parmitano noticed excessive water in his helmet during a spacewalk on July 16th, 2013. He reports feeling water on the back of his head to NASA mission control.
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00:48
Human and Robot Talk for the First Time in Space | Video
Added 776 Views / 0 LikesIn a first for robot-human relations, Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata chatted with the talking robot Kirobo aboard in the International Space Station on Dec. 6.
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01:03
Hadfield Hits: How To Shave In Space | Video
Added 737 Views / 0 LikesThe Expedition 35 commander demonstrates how astronauts shave on the International Space Station.
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02:14
Space Station Boost Proves Newton's Laws - All 3 of Them!
Added 746 Views / 0 LikesExpedition 29 crew demonstrate what happens to free floating objects (including people) when ISS is boosted into a higher orbit. Astronauts Mike Fossum, Satoshi Furukawa and Sergei Volkov -- plus one ball -- subject themselves to Sir Isaac's whims.
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01:58
How Long Does It Take Space Station To Orbit Earth? | Video
Added 727 Views / 0 LikesISS commander Chris Hadfield explains orbital mechanics to a high school student.
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09:40
ISS Tour: Russian Segment&Soyuz Spacecraft | Video
Added 675 Views / 0 LikesExpedition 33 commander Suni Williams showcases the oldest segment (Zarya) on the ISS , the central command post (Zvezda) and takes a look inside spaceship that will take her home.
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06:08
ISS Tour: Cupola, Weightlifting and A Closet Module | Video
Added 680 Views / 0 LikesExpedition 33 commander Suni Williams showcases the observation deck, the advanced resistive exercise device and the Leonardo Permanent Multi-purporpse Module (PMM).
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05:11
ISS Tour: Labs, Exercise Bike&Space Suits | Video
Added 786 Views / 0 LikesExpedition 33 commander Suni Williams showcases the Japanese, American and European laboratories are toured. Also a look at the station's space suits. Destiny, Columbus and Kibo nodes are toured.
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02:27
How To Shave Your Head In Space | Video
Added 755 Views / 0 LikesAstronaut Chris Cassidy shaved his head while on the International Space Station to welcome his new crewmate Luca Parmitano.
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02:42
Astronaut Plays Flute on Space Station
Added 799 Views / 0 LikesFlight Engineer Cady Coleman demonstrates playing a flute on the International Space Station during an interview with National Public Radio's "All Things Considered." Credit: NASA/NPR
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01:54
Astronauts Drink Urine and Other Waste Water | Video
Added 883 Views / 0 LikesISS commander Chris Hadfield explains how astronauts stay hydrated and why Space Station must try to recycle everything. -- Life in Space: Astronaut Chris Hadfield's Video Guide: http://goo.gl/fdgcgU
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01:46
How To Wash Your Hands In Space | Video
Added 813 Views / 0 LikesISS Commander Chris Hadfield shows us the fine points of manual digital hygiene in microgravity. A clean-handed astronaut is a happy astronaut. -- Life in Space: Astronaut Chris Hadfield's Video Guide: http://goo.gl/fdgcgU
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01:48
How To Barf, Puke, Vomit In Space | Video
Added 858 Views / 0 LikesHow do you upchuck if there is no up or down? ISS commander Chris Hadfield explains what astronauts do if they have to vomit. -- Life in Space: Astronaut Chris Hadfield's Video Guide: http://goo.gl/fdgcgU