Cosmic Velocity - First to Yard per Second

The first cosmic velocity (escape velocity from Earth's surface to orbit) is approximately 7,900 m/s (7.9 km/s), the minimum speed needed to achieve Earth orbit.

v₁ = √(GM/r) where G is gravitational constant, M is Earth's mass, r is Earth's radius. Approximately 7.9 km/s.

To km/h: × 3,600. To mph: × 17,672. 7.9 km/s = 28,440 km/h = 17,672 mph.

Minimum speed for satellites, space station orbit, and low Earth orbit (LEO) calculations.

ISS orbits at ~7.66 km/s. Below this speed, you fall back to Earth. Above it, you stay in orbit (if horizontal).

Confusing with escape velocity (second cosmic velocity, 11.2 km/s) — orbital velocity is lower.

Remember: ~8 km/s for orbit, ~11 km/s to escape. v₁ is minimum for orbit, not escape.

Yard per second measures distance in yards traveled in one second.

1 yd/s = 0.9144 m/s = 3.29 km/h = 2.045 mph = 3 ft/s.

To ft/s: × 3. To m/s: × 0.9144. To mph: × 2.045.

Sprint speeds in track and field (10–12 yd/s for elite sprinters), projectile velocities, and some fluid flow measurements.

Usain Bolt peak: ~13.5 yd/s. NFL wide receiver sprint: ~11 yd/s. Baseball thrown: ~40–45 yd/s.

Confusing with ft/s — yd/s is 3× faster. Mixing up with mph.

1 yd/s = 3 ft/s = 0.9144 m/s. Multiply by ~2 to get approximate mph.