EngineeringToolkit

Orbital Velocity Formula

The velocity needed to keep an object in orbit at a certain height.

Formula

v = √(GM/r)

Discipline: Aerospace Engineering. Result unit: m/s.

Variables and units

  • v — Orbital Velocity (m/s): Orbital velocity
  • G — Gravitational Constant (m³/(kg·s²)): Universal gravitational constant
  • M — Central Mass (kg): Mass of central body
  • r — Orbital Radius (m): Distance from center of central body