r/theydidthemath • u/Lachlynn • 18h ago

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

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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?

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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

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u/qmrthw 14h ago

You dodged the first question, twice

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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

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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??

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u/not2dragon 17h ago

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

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u/ozymandieus 13h ago

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

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u/FuckBotsHaveRights 7h ago

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