Orbital velocity is the speed a satellite or planet needs to maintain a stable circular orbit — fast enough that gravity's pull curves its path into a circle instead of letting it fall in or fly away..
Orbital velocity is the speed a satellite or planet needs to maintain a stable circular orbit — fast enough that gravity's pull curves its path into a circle instead of letting it fall in or fly away.
A satellite orbits Earth (M = 5.97×10²⁴ kg) at r = 6.771×10⁶ m (about 400 km altitude). v = √(6.674×10⁻¹¹ × 5.97×10²⁴ / 6.771×10⁶) ≈ 7.67 km/s — close to the ISS's real orbital speed.
For a circular orbit: √(GM ÷ r).
Gravitational pull is stronger closer in, requiring higher velocity to avoid falling inward.
Escape velocity (√2 times orbital velocity) is the higher speed needed to break free entirely.