what will be max speed of an object in space?

Question

if we are increasing speed of a spacecraft continously (push it to max), what will be it's speed at max.Theoritcally and practically?

Answer 1

That would depend on the means of propulsion you use... if you use conventional engines (like in NASA's rockets) then your speed will likely max at around 60000-90000 km/h. But using other planets as slingshots can accelerate to about 10-50 times that speed.

Other experimental methods include the solar-sail, which uses light to push the vehicle in a given direction - which, theoretically, should reach speeds close to light itself (300000 km/second).
Or the Ion drive which accelerates exponentially over a very long period of time and should reach the same speeds.

But current piratical methods are no where close to those speeds.

Answer 2

The Speed Limit of the Universe is that of Light.

It's theorized that we can approch that using a kind of craft called a 'light sail' that uses the minute energy transfer of particles bouncing off a reflective surface.

This would be slow to accelerate, but since the only fuel requires is that of the star behind the craft, there is very little to stop how fast you can go, except of course, the Speed of Light.

Answer 3

You can approach the speed of light as closely as you please if you have a suitable engine. Unfortunately, the best engine available with any theoretically possible technology can only drive a spacecraft at a small fraction of the speed of light.

Answer 4

the speed of electromagnetic radiation (visible light, Infrared Radiation, UV Radiation etc), although it doesnt entirely answer your question, travels at a speed of 3.00 x 10 ^ 8 m/s^2 this is why the light from the sun takes 8.3 minutes, or 8 minutes 20 seconds to reach the earth (this is also known as the speed of light)