Cone of Escape

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Cone of Escape

A hypothetical cone in the exosphere, directed vertically upward, through which an atom or molecule would theoretically be able to pass to outer space without a collision, that is, in which the mean free path is infinite. See fringe region.
Such a cone would open wider with increasing altitude above the critical level of escape, and would be nonexistent below the critical level of escape.

References

This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use