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Mihsaba›Escape Velocity Calculator

Escape Velocity Calculator

Calculate escape velocity from a body’s mass and radius from its center, plus local gravity and circular-orbit speed at that radius.

These are idealized models: collision assumes sticking, free fall ignores air drag, and the pendulum uses the small-angle approximation.

How to use

Escape velocity is the minimum speed in an ideal Newtonian model to reach infinite distance with zero final kinetic energy from radius r around mass M, without further propulsion or drag.

  1. Enter body mass.
  2. Enter distance from its center.
  3. Calculate escape speed, local gravity and circular-orbit speed.

How it is calculated

vₑ=√(2GM/r); g=GM/r²; vorbit=√(GM/r)

Example

Example: Earth-like M≈5.972×10²⁴ kg and r≈6.371×10⁶ m gives escape speed near 11.19 km/s in this model.

Important notes

This Newtonian calculation ignores atmosphere, body rotation, other bodies and general relativity.

Frequently asked questions

Is continued thrust required?

Not in the ideal model once the required trajectory/speed is achieved.

Orbit speed equals escape speed?

No; escape speed is √2 times circular speed at the same r.

Is r altitude?

No, it is distance from the center.