Is It Possible for a Passenger Flight to Fly to Space?

No. It is not possible for a host of reasons! Not only would it be extremely difficult, but it would also not be a worthwhile endeavor.

The Challenges of Air Travel Beyond Earth's Atmosphere

Leaving Earth's atmosphere requires overcoming the planet's gravitational pull, which demands a considerable amount of thrust. Additionally, air-breathing engines, such as those used in most commercial aircraft, rely on air to function effectively. In the vacuum of space, there is no air to help the engines produce thrust, rendering them ineffective.

Technical Limitations of Airplanes in Space

For an aircraft to even come close to achieving spaceflight, it would need to navigate through the atmosphere and enter the realm of space. However, during this journey, the air density would decrease with altitude, affecting the aircraft's engines significantly:

Thrust and Air Density

Typical commercial airliners employ jet engines, which operate by drawing in air and expelling it at high speeds, generating thrust. As altitude increases, the air grows thinner, reducing the amount of air that the engines can draw in. Eventually, the air becomes so thin that the engines cannot generate sufficient thrust to maintain level flight, necessitating a descent to an area with more dense air.

The Role of Gravity and Lift

For an aircraft to achieve lift, it needs the gravitational pull provided by air. At the edge of space, known as the Kármán line, where space begins at approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) above Earth, the amount of air becomes negligible, making it impossible for an aircraft to produce lift for its wings. Consequently, the aircraft would be unable to maintain a stable or climbing flight, eventually plummeting back to Earth.

Life Support and Safety Considerations

Beyond technical limitations, there are significant safety concerns for passengers and crew during such an endeavor. Aircraft engines pressurize the air within the cabin to provide a breathable environment for the passengers and crew. Without air, the cabin would rapidly depressurize, leading to decompression sickness and hypoxia, which can be fatal. Once the aircraft reaches an altitude where there is almost no breathable air, the engines would lose their functionality, leading to a catastrophic failure.

Conclusion and Why Space Travel Will Stay in Rockets

For these reasons and others, it is clear that aircraft, designed for in-atmosphere flight, are not suitable for space travel. The journey to space requires specialized vehicles, such as rockets, that can overcome the Earth's gravitational pull, maintain propulsion, and ensure the survival of both the vehicle and its occupants. While commercial flights are optimized for safety, efficiency, and passenger comfort within the atmosphere, they are fundamentally unsuited for the harsh conditions of space.