Where did Richard Branson's VSS Unity flight altitude (approx. 55 miles) fall concerning the Kármán line?
Answer
His flight was below the Kármán line but above the FAA's 50-mile benchmark
Richard Branson's mission on July 11, 2021, saw his Virgin Galactic VSS Unity reach approximately 55 miles in altitude. Since the FAA's domestic threshold for qualification was 50 miles, Branson successfully surpassed this U.S. benchmark and thus qualified to receive his wings, as he did shortly after his flight. However, the internationally accepted Kármán line is situated at 100 kilometers (about 62 miles). Therefore, Branson’s altitude of 55 miles, while sufficient for the domestic award, meant he had not crossed the higher, internationally recognized boundary into space.
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