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Scientists confirm the edge of space
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A state-of-the-art Canadian probe has found the place where Earth’s atmosphere and outer space meet. Confirming what scientists had already suspected, the probe found the edge of space begins at 118 km above the Earth’s surface.
The probe, known as Supra-Thermal Ion Imager and controlled by the University of Calgary, hunted for the area where space and atmosphere met. What it was searching for was the “ transition between the relatively gentle winds of Earth's atmosphere and the more violent flows of charged particles in space – flows that can reach speeds well over 1000 km/hr.” [EurekAlert] The probe was attached to a JOULE-II rocket that soared to 200 km above sea level, and area that is difficult to study with low-flying balloons or high-flying satellites.
This was a confirmation flight, solidifying the definition of the edge of space at 118 km above sea level. It was an important step, for "it's only the second time that direct measurements of charged particle flows have been made in this region, and the first time all the ingredients – such as the upper atmospheric winds – have been included," says David Knudsen, associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Calgary. [EurekAlert]
The Canadian Space Agency spent $422,000 to help create the probe, which will pave the way for future research. By positively identifying where space and the atmosphere meet, scientists hope to begin studies into what exactly happens at the interaction point. Knudsen states that this “could mean a greater understanding of the link between sunspots and the warming and cooling of the Earth's climate as well as how space weather impacts satellites, communications, navigation, and power systems." [EurekAlert]
This study will be published this week in Journal of Geophysical Research.
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