// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM
Orbital Speed
How fast a satellite is moving along its orbital path at any given moment.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Orbital Speed is the instantaneous magnitude of an orbiting body's velocity vector, varying along an elliptical path (faster at periapsis, slower at apoapsis), determined by the gravitational parameter of the central body and the body's distance from it.
BACKGROUND
Outer space, or simply space, is the expanse that exists beyond Earth's atmosphere and between celestial bodies. It contains ultra-low levels of particle densities, constituting a near-perfect vacuum of predominantly hydrogen and helium plasma, permeated by electromagnetic radiation, cosmic rays, neutrinos, magnetic fields and dust. The baseline temperature of outer space, as set by the background radiation from the Big Bang, is 2.7 kelvins.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Tangential speed
- instantaneous velocity magnitude
USAGE NOTE
Varies throughout an elliptical orbit, being highest at periapsis and lowest at apoapsis.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Orbital Speed.
SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company's primary goal is to enable humanity to become a spacefaring civilization, which involves developing technologies to achieve and maintain orbital speed for various missions, including Starlink satellite deployment and crewed missions to the International Space Station.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is a U.S. government agency responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. NASA develops and operates launch systems (like SLS) and spacecraft that achieve and maintain orbital speeds for scientific research, exploration, and human spaceflight missions.
ESA is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to space exploration. It develops and operates a wide range of space missions, including launch vehicles (like Ariane and Vega) and satellites, all of which require precise control over orbital speed for deployment, maneuvering, and mission execution.
Blue Origin is an American privately funded aerospace manufacturer and sub-orbital spaceflight services company. The company is developing orbital launch vehicles like New Glenn, engines, and lunar landers, all requiring advanced propulsion and guidance systems to achieve and maintain specific orbital speeds.
ULA is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space and Boeing Defense, Space & Security, providing launch services for U.S. government missions. They operate the Atlas V and Delta IV Heavy rockets and are developing Vulcan Centaur, all designed to reliably achieve the precise orbital speeds required for various payloads.
Rocket Lab is an American aerospace manufacturer and small satellite launch service provider. They specialize in dedicated small satellite launches using their Electron rocket, which is designed to efficiently achieve orbital speed for a range of small payload missions.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Its space sector develops and manufactures various spacecraft, launch vehicles (like Antares), and propulsion systems directly involved in achieving and operating at orbital speeds for government and commercial customers.
Arianespace is a French company that markets and operates the Ariane, Soyuz, and Vega families of launch vehicles. As a commercial launch service provider, their core business is delivering satellites into various orbits, which fundamentally relies on achieving the correct orbital speed for each mission.