Subject: Re: [BoundaryPoint] Somewhat OT: Where does space begin<br/>
Date: Jan 16, 2003 @ 11:22<br/>
Author: Kevin Meynell (Kevin Meynell &lt;kevin@...&gt;)<br/>
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<div id="ygrps-yiv-930248292"><blockquote><span title="ireply">&gt;International law states that there is no definitive point where the <br/>
&gt;atmosphere ends and space begins.<br/>
<br/>
 </span></blockquote>The problem is that the atmosphere isn&#39;t uniform in its depth/thickness <br/>
around the Earth. It&#39;s thicker at the equator than at the poles. In <br/>
addition, there are a few molecules of air even at very high altitudes - <br/>
what concentration does this have to be?<br/>
<br/>
<blockquote><span title="ireply"> &gt;The major space powers accept the following definition: Space begins at &quot; <br/>
&gt;the lowest perigee attained by orbiting space vehicles...&quot;<br/>
<br/>
 </span></blockquote>Again, this definition is a bit vague as a trajectory that allows a vehicle <br/>
to orbit the earth once, is going to be different to one that allows a <br/>
vehicle to orbit indefinitely (thanks to atmospheric friction). Presumably <br/>
the trajectory would also be different for equatorial and polar orbits due <br/>
to atmospheric and gravity differentials.<br/>
<br/>
<blockquote><span title="ireply"> &gt;Columbia, Equador, Brazil, People&#39;s Republic of the Congo, Zaire, Kenya, <br/>
&gt;Uganda, and Indonesia also stated that they would defend such areas.<br/>
<br/>
 </span></blockquote>Good luck!<br/>
<br/>
Regards,<br/>
<br/>
Kevin Meynell</div>