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

Try to run in the sea and then on a road.

In the sea you have water and air slowing you down.
On the road you only have air.

You already know that air exist because when it’s windy you can feel it pushing against you.

In space you have neither air or water so nothin’ stopping you:-)