What critical distinction is made when a rocket crosses the Kármán line?
Answer
Conventional aerodynamics begin to break down due to low air density.
Crossing the Kármán line signifies an altitude where air density is so low that conventional aerodynamic principles cease to function as they do lower down, meaning the vehicle is effectively operating in a vacuum.
Related Questions
Who holds the current record for the highest altitude achieved by an amateur or student-built rocket?What was the measured altitude in feet for the record-setting flight by USCRPL?What is the altitude of 470,000 feet converted to kilometers?What recognized aerospace boundary did the USCRPL flight definitively cross?What critical distinction is made when a rocket crosses the Kármán line?What is the name of the high-performance model rocket kit mentioned as being engineered toward the record altitude goal?Which motor class is specifically recommended for the high-end commercial 'So Long' kit?What types of motors are necessary to achieve altitudes approaching 470,000 feet?What challenge must the recovery system overcome at the record altitude of 143 km?How does the record altitude compare to the typical cruising altitude of commercial airliners?