Love space? Whether you are learning about it in school or getting lost in awesome sci-fi movies, space is one of the coolest things to think about! But have you ever wondered what's actually true? Let's blast off and debunk some wild space myths so you can wow your friends with the real facts!
MYTH #1: SPACE IS COMPLETELY SILENT
You’ve probably heard that space is super quiet—like, “no one can hear you scream” quiet. While it’s true there aren’t sound waves flying around like on Earth, space isn’t totally silent. Here’s the truth: sound waves need something to bounce through, like air or water, and since space doesn’t have much of that, you won’t hear sound like we do here. But electromagnetic waves, like radio waves, still zip around in space—and those can be turned into sound!
MYTH #2: BLACK HOLES SUCK EVERYTHING IN
Ever picture black holes as giant vacuums sucking up everything in their path? It’s not quite like that! Black holes have strong gravity, but they don’t swallow up everything nearby. Instead, they act more like a sinkhole. If something is far enough away, it’ll keep on floating and orbiting like normal. So, no need to worry about getting sucked into one from far away!
photo credit: Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration
MYTH #3: YOU CAN SEE THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA FROM SPACE
We’ve all heard this space myth: astronauts can spot the Great Wall of China from space. Sounds awesome, right? Well, not really. While the Great Wall is super long—over 13,100 miles! —it’s not that wide. From orbit, it's tough to spot with just your eyes, though you can catch it on radar. Still, space offers a killer view of Earth!
MYTH #4: SPACE TRAVEL MAKES YOU WEIGHTLESS
Another common myth and legend about space is that astronauts are totally weightless in space because there’s no gravity. But guess what? Space does have gravity—just less than on Earth. Astronauts aren't completely weightless, but they do seem to float because they’re ‘falling’ around Earth at the same speed as their spaceship. It’s like an endless space ride!
MYTH #5: ASTEROIDS AND COMETS ARE CONSTANTLY ABOUT TO DESTROY EARTH
Some sci-fi movies make it seem like Earth is always just a step away from getting smashed by a giant asteroid or comet. The truth? While it’s possible for space rocks to hit Earth, NASA monitors anything that gets too close. So far, nothing major is heading our way, and even if one did, NASA has got a plan to handle it.
MYTH #6: THERE'S A “DARK SIDE” OF THE MOON
Have you heard of the “dark side” of the moon? It sounds spooky, but it’s not what you think. People talk about it because we only ever see one side of the moon from Earth, but the other side gets sunlight too. The moon also has day and night, just like Earth. The main difference is that each one last two weeks. So, no permanent darkness over there!
photo credit: Scientific American
MYTH #7: SPACE TRAVEL WILL CRUSH YOU WITH G-FORCES
You’ve probably seen movies where people in space are slammed by insane G-forces, right? G-forces are real, but astronauts have it under control. They mostly feel it during launch and re-entry, and thanks to special training and high-tech G-suits, they can handle it like pros. Any concerns of a person being crushed or exploding in space is just a space myth. While space is like a vacuum, it doesn’t cause the body to explode. If a person is exposed in space, their body will expand and bloat, but the skin is stretchy enough to prevent anything from exploding. No crushing, exploding, or any of that dramatic stuff—just pure adventure!
ANCIENT MYTHS ABOUT SPACE
Long before astronauts, ancient people had their own ideas about space. Some thought Earth was the center of the universe, and that the Sun and Moon were powerful gods. They even believed in a mythical river that circled the world! While they got a few things wrong, they did figure out a lot about the stars and planets, and they even invented the first calendars. Not bad for ancient times, right?
MYTH BUSTING, SPACE STYLE!
If you love space like we do, you’ll enjoy the themes at Flight Adventure Park. Visit one of our locations and spend an hour or two on our indoor wall-to-wall trampolines. Check out all the attractions at our park, many of which are space themed. Take part in our various programs that provide fun for all ages. Get your ticket to a fun adventure today at Flight Adventure Park!