NASA’s Juno spacecraft showcases incredible speed, hitting 165,000 mph (365,000 kmph). Imagine, even at this fast pace, it would still take 2,958 years to cover a distance of one light year, a testament to the vastness of space—approximately 5.88 trillion miles (9.46 trillion kilometers).
Traveling at the speed of light covers vast distances in space quickly, but current technology makes it impossible for humans or even our most advanced spacecraft to reach this speed.
Can people match the speed of a light year?
Einstein said it’s impossible to match the speed of light because it travels at 186,000 miles per second (300,000 kilometers per second). Light is the fastest thing in the universe. We can’t create anything that moves even a fraction as fast.
Some scientists theorize that a new type of engine, called a warp drive, could let humans reach the speed of light. However, even with this propulsion, traveling between star systems would still take thousands of years.
Despite challenges, scientists are optimistic about faster-than-light space travel. They believe one day we’ll explore new parts of our universe and discover life on other planets.