text: why cant an airplane go in space like a rocket?   as thhe "air" in airplane implies, airplanes need air to fly.  their engines are designed to take in air, mix it with fuel and combust it to produce energy for propellers or jet engine thrust.  although many jetliners can operate at very high altitudes in thin air they can not operate within the near perfect vacuum of space with no air (oxygen) at all.  also, airplanes are propelled through air using wings (air foils) that give the airplane lift and control.  there would be no lift or control within the vacuum of space.  rockets and spacecraft on the other hand contain their own fuel and liquid oxygen (or other chemicals) that produce enormous thrust.  they can not "fly" in air although some can glide to return to earth.