Carbon From Outer Space Older Than Our Solar System

North American X-15 ... During the X-15 program, 13 different flights by eight pilots met the USAF spaceflight criteria by exceeding the altitude of 50 miles (80 km) thus qualifying the pilots for astronaut status. The USAF pilots qualified for USAF astronaut wings, while the civilian pilots were awarded NASA astronaut wings in 2005, 35 years after the last X-15 flight...

Space Exploration ... While the observation of objects in space, known as astronomy, predates reliable recorded history, it was the development of large and relatively efficient rockets during the early 20th century that allowed physical space exploration to become a reality. Common rationales for exploring space include advancing scientific research, uniting different nations, ensuring the future survival of humanity and developing military and strategic advantages against other countries...

Space Science ... Interdisciplinary fields Astrobiology Astrochemistry or Cosmochemistry Astrophysics - the intersection of physics and space science, the study of the physics of extraterrestrial objects and interstitial spaces Space plasma physics Orbital mechanics or astrodynamics, which also has applications to spacecraft Planetary science - overlaps with Earth science Planetary geology Micro-g environment research Forensic astronomy Space archaeology - the study of human artifacts in outer space Archaeoastronomy - the history of human understanding of the universe Astronautics is the science and engineering of spacefaring and spaceflight, a subset of Aerospace engineering (which includes atmospheric flight) Aerospace engineering Control engineering Orbital mechanics Spacecraft design for launch vehicles and satellites Space environment - study of conditions that affect the operation of spacecraft Spacecraft propulsion Space food Space logistics...

Outer Space ... However the Kármán line, at an altitude of 100 kilometres above sea level, is conventionally used as the start of outer space for the purpose of space treaties and aerospace records keeping... The framework for international space law was established by the Outer Space Treaty, which was passed by the United Nations in 1967... This treaty precludes any claims of national sovereignty and permits all states to explore outer space freely...