According to the theory of special relativity proposed by Albert Einstein, as an object's velocity increases, it approaches the speed of light but never reaches or exceeds it.
In special relativity, the speed of light in a vacuum, denoted by 'c', is considered to be a fundamental constant of nature. It is approximately 299,792 kilometers per second (or about 186,282 miles per second).
According to the theory, as an object with mass accelerates, its relativistic mass increases, requiring more energy to continue accelerating. As the object approaches the speed of light, its relativistic mass becomes infinitely large, and an infinite amount of energy would be needed to accelerate it further. This implies that it would take an infinite amount of time to reach the speed of light.
Therefore, based on the principles of special relativity, an object with mass cannot reach or exceed the speed of light. It can only approach it asymptotically, getting closer and closer but never quite reaching it. This limitation is often referred to as the cosmic speed limit.