To break free from Earth’s pull, a spacecraft must reach what’s called escape velocity about 25,008 miles per hour (40,270 km/h).

 

To break free from Earth’s pull, a spacecraft must reach what’s called escape velocity about 25,008 miles per hour (40,270 km/h). That’s nearly Mach 33, meaning 33 times the speed of sound at sea level. At this speed, gravity can no longer pull the spacecraft back down without additional propulsion.

Escape velocity depends on a planet’s mass and size. For Earth, it’s high because our planet is massive. Smaller bodies like the Moon require much lower speeds to escape, while larger planets like Jupiter require far greater speeds.

Rockets don’t instantly jump to Mach 33. Instead, they gradually accelerate as they climb higher. As they burn fuel, they become lighter, making it easier to gain speed. Once in orbit, spacecraft usually travel around 17,500 mph but to completely leave Earth behind and head into deep space, they must reach that full escape velocity.

Reaching such incredible speeds shows just how strong Earth’s gravity is and how powerful modern rockets must be to overcome it.

#space #science #fact #facts