🛰️ Orbital Velocity Calculator
How fast must a spacecraft travel to stay in a circular orbit?
Results
- Orbital velocity
- 7.67249 km/s
How it works
v = √(GM / r)
To stay in orbit you must fall toward the planet at exactly the rate the surface curves away. Lower orbits are faster: the ISS circles at about 7.66 km/s.
Assumptions: Circular orbit, no drag.
Reference: Newtonian orbital mechanics