Escape Velocity Calculator

Calculate the escape velocity required to break free from any celestial body’s gravitational pull

Calculate Escape Velocity

Enter planet parameters or select from presets:

Earth
Moon
Mars
Jupiter
Sun
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Escape Velocity

11,186 m/s
Meters per second
(Earth’s escape velocity: 11.2 km/s)

Kilometers per Second

11.186 km/s
Kilometers per second

About Escape Velocity

Escape velocity is the minimum speed needed for an object to escape from the gravitational influence of a planet or celestial body without further propulsion.

vesc = √(2GM/R)

Where:

G = Gravitational Constant (6.67430 × 10-11 m3 kg-1 s-2)

M = Mass of the celestial body (kg)

R = Radius of the celestial body (m)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is escape velocity? +

Escape velocity is the minimum speed an object needs to escape the gravitational pull of a celestial body without any additional propulsion. It’s determined by the mass and radius of the body.

Why is Earth’s escape velocity 11.2 km/s? +

Earth’s escape velocity is calculated based on its mass (5.972 × 1024 kg) and radius (6,371 km). Using the escape velocity formula, this gives us approximately 11.2 km/s, which is the speed required to overcome Earth’s gravity.

Does escape velocity depend on the object’s mass? +

No, escape velocity is independent of the mass of the escaping object. It only depends on the mass and radius of the celestial body being escaped from.

Which planet has the highest escape velocity? +

Jupiter has the highest escape velocity among planets in our solar system at about 59.5 km/s, due to its enormous mass (1.898 × 1027 kg). The Sun has an even higher escape velocity of 617.5 km/s.