In space, directions like "up" and "down" don’t really exist the way they do on Earth. Since there’s no gravity to pull everything toward one point, there's no fixed sense of direction. Astronauts and spacecraft rely on the positions of stars and planets to navigate instead. Space agencies like NASA often use terms like "above" or "below" relative to Earth's orientation, but it’s all relative because everything’s floating! Even when we say things like "north" or "south" in space, it's based on Earth’s poles, not an actual universal guide. So, in the vast emptiness of space, directions are more about where things are positioned relative to each other rather than the way we think of them here on Earth. Animation is created by Bright Side. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music by Epidemic Sound https://www.epidemicsound.com Check our Bright Side podcast on Spotify and leave a positive review! https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD34jRLrMrJux4VxV Subscribe to Bright Side: https://goo.gl/rQTJZz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brightside Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightside.official TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brightside.official?lang=en Stock materials (photos, footages and other): https://www.depositphotos.com https://www.shutterstock.com https://www.eastnews.ru ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more videos and articles visit: http://www.brightside.me
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00:00Picture yourself floating in the endless expanse of space.
00:04There are no edges or corners, no up or down, left or right.
00:09It's like being lost in a galactic wilderness, except you can't rely on any natural reference
00:14points or even on your usual sense of direction to guide you.
00:19And without gravity, you can find yourself tumbling and spinning in all directions, like
00:24being caught in a celestial tumble dryer.
00:27So what do you do?
00:29How do you know which way to go, and how not to get lost?
00:32Well, this isn't a simple question.
00:35First let's take a trip back to good old planet Earth, where direction is something we often
00:40take for granted.
00:42Imagine you're hiking through a dense forest.
00:44You're surrounded by towering trees, mossy rocks, and chirping birds.
00:49But there are no clear paths or road signs to guide you.
00:52So what should you do?
00:54The first thing that comes to mind is a compass, right?
00:58A small magical device that always knows where the north is, no matter where you are
01:03on the planet.
01:04All thanks to a tiny magnet inside.
01:07It feels the pull of Earth's magnetic field, which covers our planet like a cozy blanket.
01:12And this field is pulling the arrow towards the planet's north pole.
01:16Now when you know where the north is, you can determine east, west, and south.
01:21At this point, you can navigate through the wilderness like a seasoned explorer.
01:26This is what we call a reference point.
01:30And it's not just about finding your way through the forest.
01:33Think about how you use reference points in your daily life, giving and following directions
01:38on a map, using a GPS navigation system, or even just telling someone which way to turn
01:44at the street corner.
01:46Even in the skies we have them, using the water.
01:49Let's say you're embarking on a thrilling hot air balloon adventure.
01:53As soon as you rise into the sky, you're greeted by breathtaking views of rolling landscapes
01:59and glittering oceans.
02:01But how do you know how high you are?
02:04That's where sea level comes into play.
02:07You've probably heard phrases like above sea level or below sea level in your daily life.
02:13It's the average level of the world's oceans, a universal reference that acts as the starting
02:18point for measuring heights and depths.
02:21As you ascend in your hot air balloon, you can use instruments like altimeters to measure
02:26your altitude relative to sea level.
02:29It's like a ruler that tells you how far you've climbed into the sky.
02:33And it's not just for hot air balloon adventures.
02:36Altitude relative to sea level is used in various ways, from aviation to meteorology
02:42and to geography.
02:44It helps us understand and describe the height of mountains and the depths of oceans, the
02:49elevation of cities, and even the flight paths of airplanes.
02:54We're used to having points of reference on Earth, but when we go higher, things are getting
02:59much more complicated.
03:02In space, there are no natural landmarks, no compasses, and no universal altimeters.
03:08Without any fixed points of reference, determining direction becomes a real challenge.
03:14Even the stars which are often used for navigation on Earth can be misleading in space.
03:19On Earth, stars appear to move in a fixed pattern due to the rotation of our planet.
03:25But in space, they seem to shift and change position as you travel.
03:31So what do we do?
03:33Well, we need some advanced technology and precise calculations.
03:37Our intrepid spacecraft have clever ways to navigate the galaxy's seas.
03:44One of the most amazing tools spacecraft use for navigation is star trackers.
03:49It's like a cosmic GPS.
03:52They're the cameras that scan the night sky, capturing images of stars and using them as
03:57reference points.
03:59Just like we use street signs to find our way in a new city, spacecraft use the position
04:03of stars to determine their orientation and direction in space.
04:10Spacecraft can also use other celestial objects as navigation aids.
04:14For example, they might use planets, moons, or even asteroids to determine their position
04:19and direction.
04:21They create their own course based on these celestial bodies.
04:25For example, a course to fly from Mercury to Mars through Venus.
04:30It's like playing cosmic connect-the-dots with planets and moons.
04:35But it's not just about finding their way.
04:39Spacecraft also use these navigation methods to make precise maneuvers, like entering orbit
04:44around a planet or landing on a moon.
04:47They use complex calculations and precise measurements to determine their altitude,
04:52speed and trajectory, using the positions of celestial objects as a compass.
04:58It's like a dance, where the spacecraft follows the cues to execute intricate maneuvers in
05:03the vastness of space.
05:06Another clever gadget is the gyroscope.
05:09It's like a space compass.
05:12Gyroscopes are incredibly sensitive and can detect even the slightest changes in orientation.
05:17They help spacecraft to stay stable, keeping them on the right track.
05:23Spacecraft also use cameras and lasers to capture images and measure distances to nearby
05:28objects, such as planets, moons, or asteroids.
05:33And don't forget about all the fancy software and algorithms.
05:37Inside each spacecraft, there's a genius computer brain that solves complex equations
05:42and makes decisions where to fly next.
05:46But that's us talking about directions.
05:48Now, what about the altitude?
05:51In space, altitude takes on a whole new meaning.
05:55It's like trying to measure the height of a skyscraper with no ground floor.
06:00So this cosmic conundrum requires some out-of-this-world creativity.
06:05Usually it's measured relative to the position of a spacecraft or satellite.
06:09If you're floating near a moon or some other celestial body and you want to know how high
06:14or low you are, you could measure your distance from this body's surface.
06:19For example, astronauts on the International Space Station might refer to their altitude
06:23as the distance above the Earth's surface, even though they're far within our atmosphere.
06:30And if the celestial body doesn't have a solid surface, like Jupiter, which is basically
06:35a huge ball of gas, oh well, then we'd just have to pray.
06:40Another method is to measure altitude relative to the spacecraft's orbit.
06:45You could measure your distance from your orbit's center or plane and use that as a
06:49reference point.
06:51These methods might sound complex, but they're the easiest way to navigate and operate in space.
06:58They allow spacecraft to precisely control their altitude, speed, and trajectory.
07:04With these methods, they can even perform maneuvers like docking, landing, or rendezvousing.
07:11Space agencies and missions also act like interstellar traffic controllers.
07:16They have to ensure that spacecraft from different nations and organizations don't crash into
07:21each other.
07:22To keep things organized, they use standardized systems and conventions, just like how we
07:27use road signs and traffic rules on Earth.
07:31In addition to standardized systems, space agencies and missions also use conventions
07:36for specifying direction and orientation in space.
07:40For example, the right hand rule.
07:43It's like a secret handshake for understanding the direction of things in physics and engineering.
07:49Imagine you have a magical glove that can tell you which way things will go in certain situations.
07:55Let's say this glove is on your right hand.
07:58Now stick out your thumb just like you're giving a thumbs up.
08:01Your thumb represents the direction of the force or the push or pull of something.
08:06Next, curl your fingers around your thumb as if you're making a fist.
08:11Your fingers now represent the direction of a magnetic field or the rotation of something.
08:16Awesome!
08:17And now for the grand finale.
08:20Point your index finger straight out like you're pretending to shoot a laser beam.
08:24Your index finger now represents the direction of motion or current flow.
08:29And there you have it.
08:30The right hand rule is all about using your magical glove to connect the direction of
08:34force, thumb, magnetic field or rotation, fingers, and motion or current flow, index finger.
08:42It's a fun and handy trick that helps to solve complex problems in physics and engineering.
08:47Including navigation.
08:50Space exploration is an adventure that challenges our perception of direction and orientation,
08:55making us realize just how much we rely on our home planet.
08:59Who knows what other crazy ways await us in the future?
09:03For example, quantum navigation or when we'll create warp speeds like in Star Trek.
09:09Methods that would be not only practical but also awe-inspiring.
09:14Let's wait and see.
09:17That's it for today.
09:18So hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your
09:23friends.
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