SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/aero-orbit-speed-17800-mph

About how fast must a rocket go to enter low orbit around Earth?

Roughly 17,800 miles per hour, about 5 miles every second.

Start playing free

  1. About 17,800 mph ✔
  2. About 1,000 mph
  3. About 250,000 mph

Why: To stay in orbit, a spacecraft has to move sideways so fast that as it falls, Earth's surface curves away beneath it. NASA puts that speed at about 17,800 mph near Earth.

Huh, didn't know that: Going a bit slower means falling back to Earth. Going much faster can send a craft away from Earth entirely.

The dad joke
Why did the satellite get a speeding ticket? It was doing 17,800 in a no orbit zone.
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: About 17,800 mph. To stay in orbit, a spacecraft has to move sideways so fast that as it falls, Earth's surface curves away beneath it. NASA puts that speed at about 17,800 mph near Earth.

  1. NASA Space Place, How Do We Launch Things Into Space? spaceplace.nasa.gov/launching-into-space/en
    at least 17,800 miles per hour
    Checked 2026-10-10.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

Flying & DronesAbout how fast must a spacecraft go to break free of Earth and head to another planet?Flying & DronesWhat shape are all orbits?Flying & DronesIn a satellite's orbit around Earth, what is the apogee?

That's stuff everyone should know.