I figured Nasa's rocket to mars travelled at mach 12 to get there in 8 months..?

Question

Does that mean the fastest craft in the universe can travel around mach 12? or is there a faster one!

Answer 1

deep space one is going to be traveling much faster than that. the newer space craft that use ion propulsion will be able to travel at amazing speeds, its just that they start of a little slow. i hope this helps!!!!!

Answer 2

Actually, yes--soe of our space probes do travel faster.

The Mars probes acually reached a speed of about Mach 35 to escape Earth's gravity--but lost a lot of that speed before they got out of Earth's gravity well entirely--tehe Mach 12 is the "residual velocity.

But ittravels at that speed because the probe uses what's called a "Hohmann orbit"--that's the particular orbit that requires the least energy--and so the least fuel--to reach Maars.

There is a distinctive "Hohmann orbit" to reach any of the planets--but the velocity for each is different--and some go faster. Also, sometimes space probes can use other planet's gravity as a "slingshot" to speed up on their way to a final destination. The "New Horizon" probe on its way to Pluto is doing this by swing by Jupiter.

But the reason why our spacecraft go the speeds they do oday is that our rocet tecchnology is limited--and saving fulel is a first priority. In the future as we learn how to build better and more efficient propulsion systems, there's no reason why they can't go a lot faster--and probably will.

Answer 3

Hey, you can use mach numbers just to relate the speed to everyday (almost everyday) experience. I have no problem with that.

A lot of people trying to be too clever for their boots.

Anyway, what you have to remember is the probes to Mars and the other planets are not "driven" all the way. They could never carry enough fuel. What happens is they are fired into a orbit that intersects the different planets. Their momentum carries them to the next gravity body, which they use again to catapult to the next planet.

So, the probe to Mars does not go straight A to B, but has an outwardly spiralling orbit that intersects Mars orbit at just at the point at which Mars reaches that point.

So, with present day technology, the fastest you can go is using the biggest gravity machine to swing you onto the next target - and of course, that gravity machine is the planet Jupiter.

Answer 4

Mach numbers aren't generally used to describe speeds outside of the atmosphere, as there is no speed of sound there to use as a reference point. Speeds in Mach are of interest to aerodynamicists because they indicate the type of flow regime an aircraft must function in.

It sounds like you are using the average speed for your calculations? And how did you figure the path length? A spacecraft doesn't travel in a straight line but follows an orbital trajectory.

Anyhow, as far as fastest spacecraft, the New Horizons probe, currently heading for Pluto, was traveling at 35,800 mph (57,600 km/h) when its engines cut off. Spacecraft can achieve higher speeds than that if they also take advantage of gravitational acceleration. The Helios probes, which were launched into elongated solar orbits, reached 150,000 mph (250,000 km/h) at perihelion.

Answer 5

There is no such thing as a Mach number in space, because sound cannot travel in a vacuum. The space shuttle goes about 17,000 MPH as it enters and leaves the atmosphere, and that translates to Mach 25 at that altitude. Any rocket going to Mars has to go faster than 25,000 MPH, because that is escape velocity.

Answer 6

Ion dirve engines can potentially travel at collossal speeds.

It also is theorecticallypossible for solar sail craft to travel at millions of mph, and in the futeure we may discover new technologies enabling us to travel near the speed of light!!

They possibilities are endless, and we can go waaaayyyyy faster than mach 12.

Thanks

Answer 7

First of all, a Mach number makes no sense in space. There is no atmosphere. Secondly, it had to go faster than that. It didn't go in a straight line, it followed a curved elliptical path.