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.
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The Blackbird (technically not a fighter jet, it never carried weapons and the SR designation specifically stands for strategic reconnaissance) specifically stays in the atmosphere. Atmosphere is thick when it comes to high speeds. The Blackbird’s engines need air to work. It “only” went to about 85,000ft/16miles in altitude.
Rockets on the other hand, specifically are meant to leave the atmosphere. Rockets bring the oxygen they burn with them in the form of oxidizer. This allows them to launch higher than the atmosphere. At 40,000ft-ish the Artemis rocket is “only” going about 1,000mph. Which isn’t outlandish. The crazy orbital speeds only happen far out of the atmosphere.
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