The elusive boundary where Earth ends and space begins

Space · Published 23 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Is space 62 miles up, or much further? This video explores why there is no single, agreed-upon starting point for space, examining the different definitions used by NASA, the U.S. Air Force, and international law.

The transition from Earth to space is a complex gradient rather than a sharp line. While many believe space begins 62 miles above our planet, the atmosphere thins gradually into the exosphere and eventually the heliosphere. The video examines the controversial Kármán line used in aviation and international law, as well as the fact that the International Space Station still experiences atmospheric drag at 254 miles.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• Nobody can agree where space actually begins.
• Where exactly does space begin, and why do spaceflight records often disagree?
• The International Space Station has completed 100,000 orbits of Earth
• How do we measure the vast, unreachable distances of the cosmos?
• The daunting logistics of reaching every planet in our solar system
• The ultimate fate of humanity's most distant explorer
• Why Earth's orbital cycles aren't the immediate cause of climate change
• The Origami Observatory: Unfolding a New Era of Deep Space Vision
• The cosmic dawn began between 380,000 years and 400 million years
• The final destination of humanity's most distant messenger
• Will Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko return to our skies?
• The lonely artifact that may outlast the human race

More in Astronomy · More in Space · Latest · A–Z · All topics