The speed of space travel depends on several factors, including the technology used and the destination in the solar system or beyond. Currently, the fastest spacecraft built by humans is the Parker Solar Probe, which is designed to study the sun. It achieved speeds of approximately 430,000 miles per hour (700,000 kilometers per hour) as it approaches the sun.
For more conventional travel, the speed of spacecraft varies. For example, the Space Shuttle traveled at about 17,500 miles per hour (28,000 kilometers per hour) in low Earth orbit. The Mars rovers, like Curiosity and Perseverance, travel much slower, with speeds around 0.1 miles per hour (0.16 kilometers per hour) when moving across the Martian surface.
Looking ahead, scientists and engineers are exploring advanced propulsion technologies that could revolutionize space travel. Concepts like ion propulsion, nuclear thermal propulsion, and even theoretical ideas like warp drives or antimatter propulsion could enable much faster travel. For instance, some theoretical designs for fusion-powered spacecraft suggest possible speeds approaching 10% of the speed of light, or about 18,600 miles per second (30,000 kilometers per second). Such speeds would dramatically reduce travel times to destinations like Mars or even distant stars.
Practical challenges, including the need for vast amounts of energy and the current limitations of materials and technologies, must be overcome before we can achieve these speeds. Additionally, human safety, life support, and the effects of prolonged space travel on the human body remain critical considerations.
Overall, while advancements continue to be made, our current capabilities limit us to relatively slow speeds in the grand scale of the universe. The focus is increasingly on developing technologies that could enable faster, more efficient interplanetary and potentially interstellar travel in the future.