The World’s Highest Speed Record

The world’s highest speed record achieved by a human-made object is held by NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, which reached about 394,736 mph (635,266 km/h) relative to the Sun during close passes in 2023–2024. Because “highest speed” depends on context and frame of reference, other headline records exist for humans, aircraft, land vehicles, and more; the details below explain how these compare.

The Absolute Record: Parker Solar Probe

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, launched in 2018 to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere, has repeatedly broken the all-time speed record for a spacecraft relative to the Sun (heliocentric speed). Using a series of Venus gravity assists to shrink its orbit, Parker accelerated to approximately 394,736 mph (635,266 km/h) during perihelion passes in late 2023 and again in 2024. Mission plans anticipate even higher speeds on later, closer passes, but as of 2024 this figure stands as the fastest verified speed for any human-made object.

How That Speed Is Measured

Spacecraft speeds are expressed relative to a reference frame—most commonly the Sun (heliocentric) or Earth (geocentric). Parker’s record refers to heliocentric speed at perihelion. Its velocity is determined using precise navigation solutions that incorporate tracking data, Doppler shifts, and trajectory models. Different frames can yield very different numbers, which is why context is essential when comparing “fastest” records across domains.

Other Headline Speed Records by Category

Speed records are kept in many categories—crewed and uncrewed flight, land and water vehicles, trains, and more—often under different rules (for example, two-way averages to cancel wind). The list below highlights widely recognized “fastest” marks in their respective domains for context.

• Fastest speed achieved by humans: Apollo 10 reached 24,791 mph (39,897 km/h) relative to Earth during reentry on May 26, 1969.
• Fastest crewed aircraft (rocket-powered): North American X-15 reached Mach 6.7 (about 4,520 mph or 7,274 km/h) on October 3, 1967.
• Fastest air-breathing jet aircraft (crewed): Lockheed SR-71 set an absolute airspeed record of 2,193.167 mph (3,529.56 km/h) on July 28, 1976.
• Absolute land speed record: ThrustSSC achieved 763.035 mph (1,227.985 km/h), breaking the sound barrier on land on October 15, 1997.
• Absolute water speed record: Spirit of Australia reached 317.59 mph (511.11 km/h) on October 8, 1978.
• Fastest train (test run): Japan’s L0 Series SCMaglev hit 603 km/h (375 mph) on April 21, 2015.
• Fastest production car (two-way verified average): Koenigsegg Agera RS recorded 277.9 mph (447.2 km/h) in 2017; a higher single-direction run by a near-production Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ reached 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h) in 2019 but did not use a two-way average and the car was modified.
• Fastest unmanned air-breathing aircraft: NASA’s X-43A scramjet reached Mach 9.6 (about 7,000 mph or 11,265 km/h) in 2004.
• Fastest spacecraft at launch (relative to Earth): NASA’s New Horizons departed Earth at about 36,373 mph (58,536 km/h) in 2006 before gaining additional speed via gravity assists.

Taken together, these records show how “fastest” depends on the vehicle, the medium (space, air, land, water), and the rules used to define and measure speed. While Parker Solar Probe holds the overall speed crown, each category highlights the cutting edge of engineering in its domain.

Why “Highest Speed” Can Mean Different Things

Speed is always relative to a chosen frame of reference (Sun, Earth, air mass, track), and record bodies often impose specific methods—such as two-way averages for land cars to neutralize wind and gradient. Altitude, medium density, propulsion type, and safety constraints also shape what’s physically and practically achievable. That’s why spacecraft can vastly exceed aircraft speeds, and why ground vehicles need standardized procedures to ensure fair, reproducible results.

Summary

The highest speed ever achieved by a human-made object is NASA’s Parker Solar Probe at about 394,736 mph (635,266 km/h) relative to the Sun, set during close solar passes in 2023–2024. In other contexts, standout records include Apollo 10 for fastest human speed, X-15 and SR-71 for crewed aircraft, ThrustSSC on land, and Spirit of Australia on water—each defined by domain-specific rules and measurement standards.

Has any car hit 700 mph?

Yes, but only with a specially built, jet-powered vehicle. The Thrust SSC, a British land-speed record vehicle, holds the record at 763 mph (1,228 km/h). This is not a production car but an experimental achievement that first broke the sound barrier for a land vehicle.
 
You can watch this video to learn more about how the Thrust SSC achieved its speed: 57sDriver61YouTube · Feb 23, 2024
About the Thrust SSC

• Purpose: The Thrust SSC is a jet-propelled streamliner designed solely for breaking speed records, not for road use. 
• History: It set the official world land speed record on October 15, 1997. 
• Achievement: It is the first and only land vehicle to break the sound barrier, reaching a speed of Mach 1.020. 
• Propulsion: The vehicle is powered by two Rolls-Royce Spey jet engines. 

Key Distinction 

• Thrust SSC vs. Production Cars: When discussing cars, “hitting 700 mph” would typically refer to a road-legal production car, which has not achieved this speed. Production cars are designed to be driven on public roads and must adhere to different regulations and engineering constraints.

What is the fastest speed ever recorded?

The fastest speed ever recorded is achieved by the Parker Solar Probe, reaching approximately 692,000 km/h (430,000 mph) due to the sun’s gravity, though the speed of light in a vacuum (299,792 km/s) is the ultimate speed limit for anything with mass. For context, the fastest land vehicle is the Thrust SSC at 1,228 km/h (763 mph), and the fastest aircraft is the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird at roughly 3,529 kph (2,193 mph).
 
Man-made Object Speed Records 

• Fastest Man-made Object: Opens in new tabThe Parker Solar Probe has reached speeds of approximately 692,000 km/h (430,000 mph). 
• Fastest Land Vehicle: Opens in new tabThe Thrust SSC, piloted by Andy Green, set the land speed record at 1,228 km/h (763 mph) in 1997, becoming the first vehicle to break the sound barrier on land. 
• Fastest Aircraft: Opens in new tabThe Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird holds the record for an air-breathing aircraft at over Mach 3.3, which is about 3,529 kph (2,193 mph). 
• Fastest Watercraft: Opens in new tabKen Warby’s Spirit of Australia holds the water speed record, reaching 511.11 km/h (317.59 mph) in 1978. 

Theoretical Speed Limit 

• Speed of Light: The fastest speed possible in the universe is the speed of light in a vacuum, which is 299,792,458 meters per second (approximately 300,000 km/s or 186,000 miles per second).

Has a car ever hit 400 mph?

Yes, multiple “cars” (referring to wheel-driven, ground vehicles) have exceeded 400 mph, with Mickey Thompson’s Challenger 1 reaching 406.6 mph in 1960, although it was an unofficial speed due to a failed return run. More recently, Danny Thompson achieved an official wheel-driven record of 448 mph in Challenger 2 in 2018, and other wheel-driven vehicles like the Turbinator II have claimed speeds over 500 mph. 
Mickey Thompson and Challenger 1

• In 1960, Mickey Thompson’s Challenger 1, a four-engine streamliner, reached 406.6 mph on a one-way pass at the Bonneville Salt Flats. 
• This marked the first time an American driver exceeded 400 mph, but he could not complete a required second run in the opposite direction to set an official record. 

Danny Thompson and Challenger 2

• In 2018, Danny Thompson, Mickey’s son, set the official piston-powered, wheel-driven speed record with Challenger 2, averaging 448 mph. 
• This record was an official two-way average, which is the standard for a Land Speed Record. 

Other Notable Vehicles

• The Turbinator II has claimed speeds exceeding 500 mph. 
• For context, the absolute Land Speed Record, held by the ThrustSSC, is much higher, at 763 mph. This vehicle uses jet engines and is less like a traditional car and more like a jet aircraft on the ground. 

Has a car ever hit 1000 mph?

This man is trying to break 1,000 mph on land his name is Rosco Mclashen. And he has so much passion and grit for motorsport. And engineering that I think he might just do it i’m Rosco Mclashen. And I