THE SOUTHWORTH PLANETARIUM
70 Falmouth Street Portland, Maine 04103
(207) 780-4249 usm.maine.edu/planet
43.6667° N 70.2667° W
Altitude: 10 feet below sea level
Founded January 1970
2021-2022: CX
"Reject your sense of injury and the injury disappears." -Marcus Aurelius
THE DAILY ASTRONOMER
Thursday, April 14, 2022
Space Perspective
Today's ultra exciting DA excursion into the unbounded black beyond takes us, well, just about 20 miles above Earth's surface. In perhaps as little as two years, there one might find a strange vessel named "Space Perspective." A wee glance at the above image will lend one a fair idea of its appearance. Furnished with plush seats and a dark purple interior reminiscent of the USS Enterprise lounge, this quaint capsule is encircled by five-meter high windows and includes life-sustaining amenities such as oxygen and adult beverages. Attached to an immense balloon, this capsule will rise off Earth's surface over a period of two hours before reaching a gliding altitude of 20 miles. The vessel will then travel at this height for two hours before a gradual descent brings it splashing happily down in the ocean. While riders won't experience weightlessness -thereby guaranteeing that they'll be able to keep those high proof spirits down-, they'll still enjoy the Olympian experience of looking down on us all from their stratospheric perch, where they'll be able to observe Earth's alluring curves.
Now, you might have a couple questions. One, can I afford it and are tickets still available? (Which is sort of two questions, but let's not nitpick.) And, two, what the devil does this have to do with astronomy and why is it the focus of today's asinine article? (Again, technically two questions.) Well, first, as we are not privy to your financial situation, we cannot know if the ticket price would constitute a big crimp in your savings. The cost per ticket, however, is a mere $125,000, a bargain basement discount when compared to the Space X price tag, which runs in the tens of millions. Although more than 600 tickets have already been sold, we are certain that others will be available.
And, perhaps, one could -if he/she were desperate for something to do- argue that this topic is a few shades shy of the astronomical since Space Perspective will remain about 42 miles below the Karman Line, the internationally agreed upon demarcation separating Earth from outer space. However, Space Perspective is part of the now-burgeoning space tourism industry, which makes it so deliciously interesting to us.* It also gives us the opportunity to discuss a matter or two about space travel.
First, why won't Space Perspective riders experience 'weightlessness,' now known more properly as microgravity? Simple. Because the craft will not be in a free fall orbit. For instance, astronauts aboard the International Space Station experience microgravity because the ISS is falling toward Earth and so, too, are those living within it. All Earth centered satellites, including the Moon, are actually falling toward the planet. However, the planet is courteous enough to move out of the way so that no crash occurs. Space Perspective will never be in free fall, let's hope.
The other issue, which we have NEVER discussed until today, is: how far up do people need to travel before the stars become visible in daytime? (i.e., when the Sun is still visible) Will Space Perspective travelers be able to look down on us while also looking up at the stars? Alas, no. Even though the Space Perspective capsule will glide above 99% of the atmosphere, its occupants won't be nearly far enough above the solar glare to see the stars. A person has to travel about 100 kilometers, or 62 miles, above Earth's surface in order to observe stars. And, yes, that height defines the karman line. See above.
From Space X to Blue Origin to Space Perspective, more humans are shuffling off terra firma to admire Earth and touch some surly faces. Granted, only the wealthy are currently able to embark on such journeys. Yet, at one time, only the affluent owned motor cars. In time, perhaps, more of us will venture skyward to hobnob with the winged cherubs and celestial seraphs who still frolic at heaven's nether edge. And if that isn't an astronomical matter, what is?
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