Distance To Space
The earth s atmosphere gradually grows thinner with increasing distance from the surface of the planet.
Distance to space. Earth s gravity keeps the moon in orbit at an average distance of 384 403 km 238 857 mi. The moon is 400 000 km away. The region outside earth s atmosphere and extending out to just beyond the moon s orbit including the lagrange points is sometimes referred to as cislunar space.
Travel more than 100 km above the surface of the earth and you re in space at the edge of the atmosphere. By the same token space is often defined as beginning at the lowest altitude at which satellites can maintain orbits for a reasonable time which is approximately 160 kilometers 100 miles above. When the space shuttle goes into space it orbits about 700 km above the surface of the earth that s less than the length of the south island of new zealand.