The fastest ever human-made object keeps breaking its own speed record
EdenRester@kbin.social to 
popsci.com
The Parker Solar Probe's new top speed could get you from NYC to LA in just 20 seconds. It's not done yet.
You are viewing a single comment
EdenRester@kbin.social to
I'm theory, the previous record holder is actually a particular man hole cover involved in operation plumbbum. Some napkin math put it at somewhere around 37 miles per second. A high speed camera pointed at it only caught one or two frames of moment.
The related Wikipedia page, in case anyone else was curious
Ah yes, the manhole cover made in Neenah, Wisconsin. Probably the furthest man made object from Earth at this point for sure.
The article says "Scientists believe compression heating caused the cap to vaporize as it sped through the atmosphere."
This, and Chris Waddle’s penalty kick for England against West Germany in the 1990 World Cup semi final.
It's unlikely it kept it though the atmosphere. But it's possible it was traveling so fast it didn't even have time to vaporize.