How long does it take to get to space? Before we answer this question, we need to define what 'space' is.
The Kármán Line marks the official line between Earth's atmosphere and 'space' and is defined as being 100 km (62 miles) above mean sea level.
It lies within Earth's thermosphere and is above the reach of conventional aircraft that usually fly below 14 km.
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In Low Earth Orbit, satellites travel between 160 km and 1,000 km above the Earth.
If you could hop in a car and travel straight up, it would take you about 1 hour 15 minutes to reach space, travelling at 80 km per hour (50 mph).
If you walked at an average speed of 6 km per hour (3.7 mph) it would take you 16 hours and 40 minutes to get to space.
NASA's Space Shuttle took about 8.5 minutes to get into Earth orbit, according to NASA.
On 16 November 2022, the Artemis 1 spacecraft took 8 minutes and 20 seconds to reach an altitude of 162 km (100.6 miles) above Earth.
The International Space Station orbits Earth 16 times in 24 hours at an average altitude of 420 km. It can take astronauts anywhere from 4 hours to 3 days to reach the Space Station, depending on the spacecraft used and the mission parameters.
How long did it take to get the first humans in space?
On 12 April 1961, Yuri Gagarin launched in Vostok 1 at 06:07 UTC and reached his highest altitude of 327 km (203 miles) 10 minutes later, becoming the first human in space.
On 5 May 1961, Alan Shepard, in Freedom 7, became the first American in space, when he reached a maximum altitude of 187.4 km (116.5 miles) 5:14 minutes after launch in a suborbital flight that lasted just 15 minutes.
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When it comes to determining how long it takes to get to space, we first need to establish what 'space' is. The Kármán Line is a critical concept in this context, serving as the official demarcation between Earth's atmosphere and outer space. Defined at an altitude of 100 km (62 miles) above mean sea level, this line is situated within Earth's thermosphere, beyond the reach of conventional aircraft that typically operate below 14 km.
In the realm of Low Earth Orbit (LEO), where satellites orbit the Earth, the distance ranges from 160 km to 1,000 km above the planet's surface. If one were to ascend vertically at a constant speed, it would take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to breach this boundary while traveling at 80 km per hour (50 mph). Conversely, walking at an average speed of 6 km per hour (3.7 mph) would require approximately 16 hours and 40 minutes to reach the same destination.
NASA's Space Shuttle, a marvel of engineering, took about 8.5 minutes to achieve Earth orbit, showcasing the efficiency of human space travel. On 16 November 2022, the Artemis 1 spacecraft reached an altitude of 162 km (100.6 miles) above Earth in a mere 8 minutes and 20 seconds.
For the International Space Station (ISS), which orbits Earth approximately 16 times in a 24-hour period at an average altitude of 420 km, the journey time for astronauts varies. Depending on the spacecraft used and mission parameters, it can take anywhere from 4 hours to 3 days to reach the ISS.
Looking back at historical milestones, Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, achieved this feat on 12 April 1961, launching in Vostok 1 and reaching an altitude of 327 km (203 miles) just 10 minutes later. Alan Shepard, the first American in space, attained a maximum altitude of 187.4 km (116.5 miles) in Freedom 7 on 5 May 1961, a mere 5 minutes and 14 seconds after launch during a suborbital flight lasting 15 minutes.
These instances underscore the remarkable progress in space exploration, demonstrating the advancements in technology and our understanding of the cosmos.
