Karman Line, Importance of Karman Line

Karman Line

• Context (TH): The Karman line that demarcates the Earth’s atmosphere from space plays an important role. It is an imaginary line located 100 km above sea level.

• It was established in the 1960s by a record-keeping body called Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).

Anyone individual who crosses the Karman line qualifies as an astronaut.

Physical Condition Change at the Karman Line

• There is no drastic change in the physical condition within a short distance on either side of the line.
  • There is no significant difference in the pressure or the composition of air.
  • The Earth’s gravity continues to exert its pull here.
  • Even the earth’s atmosphere does not end here.

Importance of Karman Line

• The Kármán Line was established to regulate airspace.
  1. It roughly marks the altitude beyond which a traditional aircraft can not fly. Any aircraft flying beyond it needs a propulsion system to pull away from the Earth’s tug.
  2. It also acts as a legal reference separating airspace that a country can claim to own from space itself, governed like international waters.

Outer Space Treaty (1967) ensures all countries’ freedom of exploration and use of outer space.