Final answer:
The model spacecraft may have gone faster than expected due to simulated gravity assists or initial launch conditions that mimic real-world scenarios where spacecraft gain additional speed from celestial bodies' gravitational forces. Software errors or unit miscalculations like those seen in past missions could also lead to an unexpected increase in speed. Advanced propulsion concepts, like those proposed in projects such as 'Breakthrough: Starshot', represent the future of achieving high speeds in space travel.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason the model spacecraft went faster than expected on Wednesday could be due to a variety of factors which are commonly encountered in real-world space missions. In the case of interplanetary spacecrafts, these craft must achieve a certain escape speed to leave Earth, with additional speed gained during flight usually coming from gravity assists from other celestial bodies. For instance, the New Horizons mission began with a high launch speed, and the Jupiter flyby gave it an additional boost, exemplifying how spacecraft can gain significant velocity from gravitational slingshotting.
Furthermore, the Galileo probe, which entered Jupiter's atmosphere at an extremely high speed due to Jupiter's strong gravitational pull, exhibited the challenges of high-speed space travel, such as intense heat shield demands and atmospheric friction. Similarly, software errors like the one on the Mars Climate Orbiter, which was destroyed due to a navigation error stemming from a unit conversion mistake, highlight the precision needed in space flight calculations. Lastly, the ambitious Breakthrough: Starshot project aims to send small craft propelled by lasers at a fraction of the speed of light, indicating ongoing efforts to achieve remarkable spacecraft speeds using innovative propulsion methods.