Cosmic Velocity - Second to Yard per Minute

The second cosmic velocity (Earth's escape velocity) is approximately 11,200 m/s (11.2 km/s), the minimum speed to escape Earth's gravity completely.

v₂ = √(2GM/r) = √2 × v₁ ≈ 11.2 km/s. Exactly √2 times the first cosmic velocity.

To km/h: × 3,600. To mph: × 25,000. 11.2 km/s = 40,320 km/h = 25,053 mph.

Moon missions, Mars missions, deep space probes (Voyager, New Horizons), and any mission leaving Earth's gravity well.

Apollo missions: ~11.2 km/s. Voyager probes: exceeded v₂ to leave solar system. New Horizons: launched at record 16.26 km/s (fastest ever from Earth).

Thinking you need this speed everywhere — you only need it at launch. In space, much less Δv is needed.

~11 km/s to escape Earth. √2 × orbital velocity. Remember: orbit ≈ 8 km/s, escape ≈ 11 km/s.

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

1 yd/min = 0.01524 m/s = 0.05486 km/h = 0.9144 m/min.

To yd/s: ÷ 60. To ft/min: × 3. To m/min: × 0.9144.

American football player speeds (50–120 yd/min), slow boat speeds, and some industrial processes.

NFL running back: 100–120 yd/min sprint. Average walking: 50 yd/min.

Confusing with yd/s (60× faster) or mph.

~30 yd/min = 1 mph. Used occasionally in American sports contexts.