What key aspect differentiates the $100 ext{ km}$ $ ext{FAI}$ standard from the $ ext{US}$ $80 ext{ km}$ designation?
Answer
Different organizational operational needs or historical precedents
The disparity between the FAI's 100 km definition and the US agencies' 50-mile (80 km) internal designation arises not from contradictory physics, but from differences in their respective mandates and historical development. The FAI criterion is strictly based on the aerodynamic convergence point. Conversely, organizations like NASA and the USAF utilize their specific thresholds based on their own operational requirements for certification or mission parameters. This shows that although the underlying physical reality is continuous, the labels applied for policy or certification purposes can diverge based on institutional context.
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