how far do you need to go from the earths surface to get into outer space?

Firstly, scientifically, the terms space and outer space are the same thing. The problem is that the Earth's atmosphere doesn't stop suddenly.

It actually seems to depend on your nationality.

The Federation Aeronautique Internationale has established an altitude of 100 km (62 miles) as a working definition for the boundary between atmosphere and space. This is used because, above an altitude of roughly 100 km (62 miles), a vehicle would have to travel faster than orbital velocity in order to derive sufficient aerodynamic lift from the atmosphere to support itself.

The United States currently designates people who travel above an altitude of 50 miles (80 km) as astronauts. BTW, this includes 8 pilots of the X-15 rocket plane, one of whom also met the FAI criterion.

62 miles one hundred kms) from the earths surface is outer space, and that is a very limited concept in the sense that that altitude is the end of gravity.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5287945

--------------

True, there’s not much air at that altitude — indeed, wings become useless. But then again, if you figure that getting into space somehow implies escaping Earth’s maternal grasp, then 100 kilometers isn’t particularly spacey. Even the moon, which is 4,000 times farther than this nominal frontier, is obviously a slave to our planet. It is part of Earth (and, given the circumstances of its birth, is also part Earth).

About 70 or 75 miles.

Approximately 100 miles

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_space

According to this and the cool diagram, proper outer space is after the exosphere and there is 800km to this from sea level. Makes a really good read!!

Sorry can i just add that you have asked for the distance from the earth's surface. I presume you are talking sea level here? Cos 100km is the distance from the earth's atmosphere to space.

150 km above is called outer space

7 miles I think

roughly 75 miles

i'm not sure but definitely above the clouds. usually you can tell when the atmosphere starts to fade and if your not wearing protective gear and an oxygen tank, you stop breathing and get really cold and no matter what you wear you start floating

Hi. Space starts at 100 km. : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceShipOne