That is the speed of sound at sea level at a certain temperature.   The speed of sound is different at various altitudes and temperatures.   

Being in orbit is more like falling at the same rate that gravity is pulling towards a massive object so most things are falling the same way spacecraft are falling.  The real threat is small meteors that aren't trapped in Earths orbit crossing their path which has happened but then statistically the chance that would strike a human is extremely low but they have struck spacecraft before including the ISS.  

If a person can go to an airshow and see the raw thrust that fighter jets put out or go to a rocket launch and see the power created by the rockets then drive around vehicles that can drive themselves (Tesla) and communicate with people all over the world via computers and powerful computers in our pockets then why wouldn't people believe that our mathematics and science isn't good enough to go into space or go to the Moon?   

Passenger jets fly across the oceans all the time.   Being in orbit is just a jump above that with different thrust requirements and different mechanics.   The air is just thinner at 240 miles above Earth compared to 40,000 feet above Earth.