The atmosphere

Abstract

Aviators flying in the upper reaches of the atmosphere need to know what they are up against. The stratosphere can be deadly. It has killed a lot of people; both those who were prepared and those who weren’t. Even those who have climbed Mount Everest are aware of the “Death Zone” at 26,000 feet, the altitude at which supplemental oxygen is required. The stratosphere is more than twice as high as that; depending upon latitude and season. There is a higher altitude at 43,000 feet where you must have oxygen under pressure. At 63,000 feet, the atmospheric pressure is the same as the vapor pressure of water and bodily fluids. This is called the Armstrong Limit. This chapter describes the various layers of the atmosphere, and defines the relative depth of the stratosphere and the upper limit for would-be stratonauts.