Orbital Speed Calculator
Calculate the orbital velocity of any celestial body with our physics-based calculator
Orbit Parameters
For Earth: ~6,371 km (surface) to 42,164 km (geostationary)
0 = circular, 0-1 = elliptical
Orbital Velocity Results
Average Orbital Speed
--
km/s
Perigee Speed (closest)
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km/s
Apogee Speed (farthest)
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km/s
Enter parameters to calculate orbital velocities.
Orbit Visualization
Orbit details will appear here.
📚 Celestial Body Reference Data
| Body | Mass (kg) | Radius (km) | Low Orbit Speed | Escape Velocity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 1.989 × 10³⁰ | 696,340 | 436.6 km/s | 617.6 km/s |
| Earth | 5.972 × 10²⁴ | 6,371 | 7.8 km/s | 11.2 km/s |
| Moon | 7.342 × 10²² | 1,737 | 1.7 km/s | 2.4 km/s |
| Mars | 6.417 × 10²³ | 3,390 | 3.5 km/s | 5.0 km/s |
| Jupiter | 1.899 × 10²⁷ | 69,911 | 42.1 km/s | 59.5 km/s |
Note: Low orbit speed calculated at 200km above surface. Data from NASA.
🚀 Orbital Mechanics Tips
Circular Orbits
For circular orbits, speed is constant. The velocity needed to maintain orbit decreases with altitude.
Elliptical Orbits
In elliptical orbits, speed varies - fastest at perigee (closest point) and slowest at apogee (farthest point).
Escape Velocity
Escape velocity is √2 times circular orbit speed at that altitude. It's the speed needed to break free from gravity.
Orbital Period
Higher orbits take longer to complete. Geostationary orbit (35,786 km) matches Earth's rotation (24 hours).
Satellite Orbits
LEO (Low Earth Orbit) is 160-2,000 km with speeds ~7.8 km/s. GEO (Geostationary) is 35,786 km with ~3.07 km/s.
Hohmann Transfers
The most fuel-efficient way to transfer between circular orbits uses elliptical transfer orbits with two engine burns.
Dark Mode
Note: This calculator provides theoretical orbital velocities based on simplified two-body physics. Actual orbital mechanics may involve additional factors like atmospheric drag, non-spherical gravity, and third-body perturbations.