Spaceships are not constantly colliding with asteroids despite their high speeds for a few reasons:
Vastness of Space: Space is incredibly vast, with enormous distances between celestial bodies, including asteroids. The chances of randomly encountering an asteroid along the spacecraft's trajectory are extremely low.
Sparse Distribution of Asteroids: While there are millions of asteroids in our solar system, they are not evenly distributed. Most asteroids are found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter or in specific regions known as Trojan asteroids. The probability of a spaceship passing through these concentrated asteroid regions is relatively low.
Advanced Navigation and Monitoring: Space agencies and organizations meticulously plan spacecraft trajectories and monitor potential collision risks. They use sophisticated tracking systems, such as radar and telescopes, to detect and track asteroids, determining their trajectories and potential threats to spacecraft. If a potential collision is predicted, mission controllers can adjust the spacecraft's course to avoid the asteroid.
Preceding Survey Missions: Prior to sending spacecraft to a specific location, dedicated survey missions are often conducted to study and map the region. These missions help identify potential hazards like asteroids and provide valuable information for mission planning, including safe routes and avoidance strategies.
Small Size of Asteroids: While there are large asteroids in our solar system, the majority of them are relatively small. The likelihood of a spacecraft colliding with a small asteroid is significantly lower due to their small cross-sectional area.
However, it's worth noting that precautions are still taken to mitigate the risk of asteroid encounters. As our understanding of asteroids improves, and as humanity ventures farther into space, continued research, monitoring, and careful planning will remain crucial to ensure the safety of space missions.