Distance To Space

The earth s atmosphere gradually grows thinner with increasing distance from the surface of the planet.
Distance to space. 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. However the earth s atmosphere does not stop abruptly. The region of space where earth s gravity remains dominant against gravitational perturbations from the sun is called the hill sphere. Travel more than 100 km above the surface of the earth and you re in space at the edge of the atmosphere.
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. According to universe today space begins where the earth s atmosphere stops.