Escape Velocity Calculator
Calculate the escape velocity for any celestial body from its mass and radius.
Includes presets for Earth, Moon, and Mars.
Escape Velocity
Escape velocity is the minimum speed needed for an object to break free from a celestial body’s gravitational pull without further propulsion.
v = √(2GM / r)
Where:
- v = escape velocity (m/s)
- G = gravitational constant (6.674 × 10⁻¹¹ m³ kg⁻¹ s⁻²)
- M = mass of the body (kg)
- r = radius of the body (m)
Escape velocities of solar system bodies:
| Body | Mass (kg) | Radius (km) | Escape Velocity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earth | 5.972 × 10²⁴ | 6,371 | 11.2 km/s |
| Moon | 7.342 × 10²² | 1,737 | 2.4 km/s |
| Mars | 6.417 × 10²³ | 3,390 | 5.0 km/s |
| Jupiter | 1.898 × 10²⁷ | 69,911 | 59.5 km/s |
| Sun | 1.989 × 10³⁰ | 695,700 | 617.5 km/s |
Key insights:
- Escape velocity does not depend on the mass of the escaping object
- It depends only on the mass and radius of the body being escaped
- At escape velocity, kinetic energy exactly equals gravitational potential energy
- Rockets do not need to reach escape velocity if they provide continuous thrust