What Constitutes Space?

Our Question for today is from Tom C. in Cocoa Beach, FL.

(Hey, Tom---that's a great Space city! I've been to Cocoa Beach, and it's all wrapped up in all sorts of Space Concepts! It's close to the Kennedy Space Center, and all the accompanying history of America's Space Program. Are you involved in the Space Program, yourself? If so, Tweet us on Twitter at @antimatterrocks, same name as this blog. We love to hear from other Spaceheads.)

The question: How do you determine that the rocket actually goes into space?

Great question, and I hope that my answer ignites your boosters.

Space: Did you know that there is no real consensus as to what constitutes space? Does it begin at the surface of the Earth and go vertically from there? We don't think so.

The US Government (and who wants to argue with them?!) says that Space begins at 62 miles above sea level. The United Nations (although we're not sure how they got involved with this) says that Space begins at 50 miles above sea level.

So, if you blend the two, we'll say that space starts somewhere between 50 and 60 miles above the surface of the Earth---depending exactly where on the Earth you are at any given time.

Our rocket flies to an altitude of between 70 and 80 miles, depending on the burn time, the spin of the earth, the time of day, and whether or not there are birds in the path of the rocket (just kidding about that, PETA--don't get all racked off about it.)

The rocket is tracked by the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) to confirm the flight profile altitude, and make sure that it actually gets into Space. The shots normally do. The first one we tried--September 25, 2006, didn't--- and crashed into the desert at almost Mach 1. Yep, big hole. BIG hole. Since then, our shots have been successful, and have carried the Antimatter mix into space on several occasions. Check your can of Antimatter to see when the specific mix in your can was shot into Space.

Keep the questions coming, and we'll keep furnishing answers. And ask your local convenience store, grocery, drug store, or beverage barn to stock Antimatter...both of you will be glad they do!