Planets - Calculate Escape Velocity

Calculator for the escape velocity of objects like rockets from Earth, Moon, Sun and planets, in km/h, m/s, mph and compared to each other. The escape velocity or second cosmic velocity is the speed an object needs at least to escape the gravity of a celestial body, to fly away from it without falling down or getting into an orbit. It is calculated as √2 * circular velocity.

Kilometers per hour:
Meters per second:
Miles per hour:
Escape Velocity		km/h m/s mph
Moon:
Mercury:
Venus:
Earth:
Mars:
Jupiter:
Saturn:
Uranus:
Neptune:
Pluto:
Sun:

Round to   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15   decimal places.

Please enter one value, the other values ​​will be calculated.

Example: a space ship, which is orbiting Earth and then accelerates above 11.2 kilometers per second, will leave Earth in a hyperbolic trajectory.

Escape velocity or second cosmic velocity refers to movement away from a celestial body. This trajectory need not be vertically upward. The braking effect of an atmosphere is not factored into the definition of the velocity itself. While an atmosphere does not increase the required speed, air resistance or atmospheric resistance does increase the energy expenditure needed to attain it. Certain factors can reduce this energy requirement. The celestial body's rotation can be capitalized by launching as close to the equator as possible. On Earth, this allows the required velocity to be reduced by up to 465 meters per second, equivalent to the tangential speed of a point on the Earth's equator. Having a nearby destination with significant gravity of its own is also advantageous. For a flight from Earth to the Moon, it is not necessary to reach the full escape velocity, a slightly lower speed suffices, because the Moon's gravitational pull acts in the opposite direction. ALso, the distance is limites. The required velocity is of course also lower if the goal is merely to achieve orbit around the celestial body from which the launch takes place.

Last updated on 08/09/2026. Author: Jürgen Kummer

Calculators for Planets and Astronomy

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