I just always assumed to achieve higher speeds in the universe you needed to be smaller and more aerodynamic. The Lockheed Blackbird is the fastest fighter jet we have and it goes only 2000mph. This fighter jet seems like it would be more aerodynamic than a rocket ship.
What is special about the rocket ships that allow them to achieve 25,000mph without being disintegrated when leaving the atmosphere and achieving escape velocity to go into space?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
In: 3
The biggest difference is between a Jet engine and a Rocket engine. A jet engine burns regular old aviation fuel (which is very similar to diesel fuel) combined with air it has to scoop from the atmosphere.
Rocket fuel ignites an explosive and requires no air input, they just contain that explosion and eject it out the nozzle. That can produce a lot more thrust than a jet, and without needing air can continue to provide that thrust once they have left the atmosphere. So most of the speed of space craft is gained once the air resistance of the atmosphere is negligible. Jet engines need the air so can never get to that point.
also you seem to have a misconception of what escape velocity is. You do not need to achieve escape velocity to leave the atmosphere. In fact the ISS is sitting there orbiting earth at well below escape velocity. escape velocity is the speed at which the strength of a bodies gravitational pull (earth in this case) is not sufficient to ever pull you back down. In the case of our solar system once you achieve earth escape velocity you’ll no longer be in orbit around earth and will instead get pulled into orbit around the sun.
The ISS is orbiting at about 17,000mph escape velocity is 25,000mph
Latest Answers