35. Will we increase or decrease our speed in space? (A K2S Question)

From The Space Library

Both. During the launch boost phase the spacecraft will accelerate to about 25,000 feet per second in order to orbit the Earth. Spacecraft going to other planets or to deep space will accelerate to faster and faster speeds to reduce transit times. But during long transits the spacecraft will likely coast most of the time, except for brief thrusting periods to correct the course. As the spacecraft approaches the destination planet or other body, it will need to slow down to an orbiting speed for that body, or perhaps will need to slow even more to land.

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Answer provided by Jon H. Brown

Question and Answer extracted from the book Kids to Space - by Lonnie Schorer

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