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From the moment our ancestors first learned to run, humanity has been locked in a relentless pursuit of one thing: more speed. It’s a primal drive that has shaped our history, pushing us to innovate, explore, and shatter boundaries that once seemed impossible. This obsession isn't just about getting from A to B faster, though, it is driven by the need for progress. It’s in the race to communicate ideas across the globe in an instant, to process information at mind-boggling rates, and to propel ourselves beyond the confines of our own atmosphere. We’ve gone from the speed of a horse to breaking the sound barrier and beyond. This list is a celebration of the ingenuity behind the fastest things on earth. A look at the most incredible, record-shattering, and downright astonishingly fast things our species has ever managed to create. Get ready to explore the pinnacle of human velocity.

#1

Space Shuttles - 17,500mph (28,163km/H)

Space shuttle launching with flames and smoke showcasing record-breaking inventions moving at mind-blowing speeds.

NASA Report

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    #2

    Parker Solar Probe - 394,736mph (635,266km/H)

    Spacecraft flying near the sun, showcasing one of the record-breaking inventions moving at mind-blowing speeds in space.

    NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben Report

    #3

    Voyager 1 - 38,610mph (62,136km/H)

    Rocket launch soaring into the sky demonstrating one of the record-breaking inventions moving at mind-blowing speeds.

    NASA Report

    #4

    Nasa X-43 – 7,000 Mph (11,265 Km/H)

    NASA experimental aircraft X-43A flying high above Earth showcasing record-breaking inventions speed technology.

    NASA Report

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    #5

    Galileo Spacecraft - 108,000 Mph (173,809 Km/H)

    Space probe flying near a planet, showcasing record-breaking inventions that move at mind-blowing speeds in space exploration.

    NASA Report

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    #6

    Japan’s Shinkansen Bullet Trains - 200mph (320km/H)

    High-speed bullet train moving through an urban area, showcasing record-breaking inventions that move at mind-blowing speeds.

    The Basingstoker Report

    #7

    Formula 1 Car - 230mph (370km/H)

    Formula 1 race cars speeding on track showcasing record-breaking inventions that move at mind-blowing speeds.

    Holapaco77 Report

    Each one of these breakthroughs represents countless hours of trial and error, complex mathematics, and the development of entirely new materials. Pushing the boundaries of velocity forces engineers and scientists to solve problems that have never been encountered before, from managing extreme heat and friction to ensuring stability at unthinkable speeds. This relentless problem-solving often creates a domino effect, leading to advancements in completely unrelated fields, from medicine to consumer electronics.

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    #8

    Concorde - 1,354mph (2,179km/H)

    British Airways Concorde supersonic airplane flying above the clouds, showcasing record-breaking invention speed technology.

    San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives Report

    #9

    Saturn V Rockets - 6,164mph (9,920km/H)

    Saturn V rocket launching from platform, showcasing record-breaking inventions moving at mind-blowing speeds in space travel.

    NASA Report

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    #10

    Stardust - 28,856 Mph (46,444 Km/H)

    High-tech spacecraft invention with reflective gold foil and scientific instruments representing record-breaking inventions at mind-blowing speeds.

    NASA Report

    #11

    Helios Spacecraft - 157,078 Mph (252,793 Km/H)

    Advanced aerospace invention inside a large facility showcasing components related to record-breaking speed technology.

    Report

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    #12

    X-15a2 2 - 4,520 Mph (7,273 Km/H)

    Prototype aircraft on runway showcasing record-breaking inventions that move at mind-blowing speeds under clear blue sky conditions.

    NASA Report

    Cee Cee
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    American hypersonic rocket powered experimental plane from the '60's.

    #13

    Lockheed Sr-71 Blackbird - 2,193 Mph (3,530 Km/H)

    Black military aircraft flying over snowy mountain range, showcasing record-breaking inventions that move at mind-blowing speeds.

    USAF / Judson Brohmer Report

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    #14

    Juno Orbiter - 165 000 Mph (265,541 Km/H)

    Space probe with large solar panels orbiting a planet, showcasing record-breaking inventions moving at mind-blowing speeds.

    NASA Report

    The quest for speed is ultimately a story about overcoming limitations. Whether the challenge is air resistance, the friction of a surface, or even the fundamental processing limits of a silicon chip, the goal remains the same: to do something more efficiently than it was ever done before. This drive for efficiency is what propels society forward. It allows us to connect, create, and compute on a global scale, shrinking the world and expanding our potential in ways our ancestors could have only dreamed of. Every record broken is another barrier removed from what is considered possible.

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    #15

    An Iron Manhole Cover - In Specific Cases 125,000 Mph (201,167 Km/H)

    Manhole cover on cobblestone street, illustrating infrastructure related to record-breaking inventions moving at mind-blowing speeds.

    Andrey Volk Report

    Ace
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Naah, consensus is that it vaporised within the first few fractions of a second.

    #16

    A 747 Jumbo Jet - 660mph (1,060km/H)

    Atlas Air cargo plane on runway, showcasing record-breaking inventions that move at mind-blowing speeds in aviation technology.

    Airwolfhound Report

    #17

    Mig-25 Jet Fighter - 2,190mph (3,525km/H)

    Military jet captured flying above forest, showcasing one of the record-breaking inventions moving at mind-blowing speeds.

    Leonid Faerberg (transport-photo.com) Report

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    #18

    Apollo 10 Capsule - 24,791 Mph (39,887 Km/H)

    Space capsule exhibit in a museum showcasing a record-breaking invention that moves at mind-blowing speeds.

    Cristiano Betta Report

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    #19

    Thrustssc Car - 763 Mph (1,228 Km/H)

    Streamlined black record-breaking invention with large jet engines displayed indoors, showcasing mind-blowing speed technology.

    Vauxford Report

    #20

    Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut - 330 Mph (531 Km/H)

    High-speed record-breaking car with carbon fiber body and aerodynamic design showcased at an auto event.

    Calreyn88 Report

    #21

    New Horizons - 36,373 Mph (58,539 Km/H)

    Technicians in clean suits working on a spacecraft covered in gold foil, showcasing record-breaking inventions at high speeds.

    NASA Report

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    #22

    Felix Baumgartne Free Fall - 844 Mph (1,358 Km/H)

    Capsule used by Felix Baumgartner in the record-breaking invention for speed in the Red Bull Stratos project displayed indoors.

    Ank kumar Report

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