Time dilation, as described by Einstein’s special theory of relativity, affects how time is experienced by observers in different frames of reference. If a rocket is moving away from Earth at a high speed, time on the rocket will pass more slowly compared to time on Earth. This means that a clock on the rocket will tick slower relative to a clock on Earth. The effect becomes more pronounced as the rocket's speed approaches the speed of light.

The speed of light, however, remains constant for all observers, regardless of their relative motion. According to special relativity, the speed of light is always the same (about 299,792 kilometers per second in a vacuum) and does not change due to time dilation or the speed of the rocket.

While factors like atmospheric drag and gravitational forces can influence the rocket's velocity, these effects are separate from the relativistic time dilation. At everyday speeds, such as those of current rockets, relativistic time dilation is very small, and classical mechanics still apply.