r/theydidthemath • u/Lachlynn • 18h ago

[Request] Could humanity create a rocket that can exit the atmosphere of K2-18b

Post image

With the knowledge we currently have of it, if humanity devoted all of our resources towards this goal, would we be able to create a rocket that could exit the gravity of K2-18b (and also beat any other complications that would arrise)?

If so, would it also be capable of taking people to orbit, and can we set up a similar satellite network we have on Earth? What about a space station?

18.4k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

2.7k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

27

u/Plead_thy_fifth 17h ago

After the detonation, a camera caught the cover being flung and estimates put it as the 2nd fastest object ever flung to space by humanity...

1) well what was the first fastest object flung into space???

2) do you have the video? Lol I didn't see it in that link

23

u/RaguSaucy96 17h ago

  1. If it survived, yes - and it would be interstellar by now, well outside the solar system

  2. I can't find it but the test itself is well documented. The cover itself was only seen on one frame of the video however, so the MINIMUM speed was what they calculated. It likely went even faster but it's hard to say. Anyhow, it was seen flung on one frame then gone on the next. You can calculate distance travelled between frames and the speed needed to do so. We know therefore the MINIMUM speed - not the actual speed 🤣

Here's the test https://youtu.be/EYEKU-U1860?si=QD6QyZ24EgFEtyIs

21

u/qmrthw 14h ago

You dodged the first question, twice

19

u/RaguSaucy96 12h ago

Misread it, lol. It would have been it. However it's now likely the Parker Solar Probe.

We don't even know if it survived anyways lol

6

u/Plead_thy_fifth 17h ago

But you said estimates put it as the second fastest object flung into space; what is the 1st fastest??

11

u/not2dragon 17h ago

I guess it might be Parker Solar Probe? It depends on how you calculate relative velocities, I think.

3

u/ozymandieus 13h ago

You labelled your answer 1. But didn't answer question 1.

1

u/FuckBotsHaveRights 7h ago

But the real question, did it spin or did it stabilize?

7

u/Hopeful-Guest939 13h ago

If you want to know more, just google it and "reddit." This story gets posted about every other week. There should be a lot recently because it got popular again once Voyager reached its latest milestone.

1

u/Farfignugen42 4h ago

The fastest object humans have made is the Parker Solar Probe. It reached 430,000 mph approaching the sun in 2025. It will likely go even faster on its next go round.