How is it that we engineer vehicles in space to travel for millions of miles at absurdly fast speeds? When we can only have vehicles on earth (jets) travel for thousands of miles at lower speeds? Why is the gap SO BIG?

Question

We can send vehicles/rovers to space and have them travel at very high speeds for millions of miles to other planets. But vehicles on earth (jets/planes) have significantly shorter range and speed. Why is this? ELI5

In: Physics

Answer 1

If you need to explain this to a 5 year old have them wave their hand in the air then have them stick it in water and wave it. Tell them see how it was harder to move your hand in the water? That is because air is less dense than water. Space is even less dense then air so moving in space is easier than moving in air.