What is airspace above 60000 feet?

The Realm Above: Understanding Airspace Above 60,000 Feet

The sky above our heads is not a uniform, empty expanse. It’s a complex and carefully managed environment, divided into different classifications of airspace designed to ensure the safe and efficient operation of aircraft. While we’re all familiar with airliners cruising at around 30,000 feet, what lies above them? What happens in the realm above 60,000 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL)?

While technically considered Class E airspace, the zone above 60,000 feet represents a unique operational challenge. This region, often referred to as “Upper Class E,” is characterized by extremely thin air. At such altitudes, the atmosphere is so rarefied that traditional fixed-wing aircraft, the kinds we typically associate with commercial aviation, struggle to generate sufficient lift and engine power for sustained flight.

For a long time, this diminished atmospheric density essentially limited operations in this upper echelon of the sky. The challenges were significant:

• Reduced Lift: Less air means less lift, requiring aircraft to fly at significantly higher speeds to maintain altitude, impacting maneuverability and fuel consumption.
• Engine Performance: Combustion engines require oxygen to function. With drastically reduced oxygen levels, engine efficiency plummets, posing significant challenges for propulsion.
• Control and Stability: Maintaining control and stability in the thin atmosphere requires highly specialized and sophisticated aerodynamic designs and control systems.

Historically, this meant that the airspace above 60,000 feet was primarily the domain of specialized aircraft like:

• Military Reconnaissance Aircraft: High-altitude reconnaissance missions have long utilized aircraft designed to operate in this environment, pushing the boundaries of aerodynamic and propulsion technology.
• Rocket Launches and Re-entries: The initial ascent of rockets and the controlled descent of spacecraft inevitably transit this airspace.
• Scientific Balloons: Weather balloons and high-altitude scientific balloons designed for atmospheric research regularly operate in this zone, gathering valuable data.

However, the narrative is changing. Advancements in aerospace technology are gradually expanding the scope of activities in these high-altitude regions. These advancements include:

• Improved Engine Technology: Scramjet and ramjet engines, designed to operate at hypersonic speeds, are being developed to take advantage of the thin air at these altitudes.
• Advanced Aerodynamic Design: Wing designs and control systems are being refined to maximize lift and maneuverability in the reduced atmospheric density.
• Electric Propulsion: Lightweight electric motors and high-density batteries are being explored for potential applications in high-altitude drones and unmanned aerial vehicles.

These developments suggest a future where the airspace above 60,000 feet will become increasingly accessible and utilized. We might see:

• High-Altitude Platforms: Drones and other unmanned aircraft operating for extended periods for surveillance, communication, and scientific research.
• Hypersonic Flight: Development of hypersonic aircraft capable of traversing vast distances in a fraction of the time of traditional aircraft.
• Space Tourism: Suborbital flights and high-altitude balloons offering a glimpse of the curvature of the Earth and the blackness of space.

In conclusion, while the airspace above 60,000 feet presents significant operational challenges due to diminished atmospheric density, it is no longer the exclusive domain of specialized aircraft. Driven by relentless innovation, the future promises a more accessible and active role for this high-altitude realm, opening up exciting possibilities for scientific exploration, technological advancement, and even tourism. The once-distant upper reaches of the atmosphere are poised to become a frontier for a new era of aviation and aerospace endeavors.