// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM
Orbital Velocity
The speed and direction a satellite is moving at any point in its orbit, crucial for keeping it in space without falling or escaping.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Orbital Velocity is the vector quantity representing both the instantaneous speed and direction of an orbiting body relative to its primary, essential for maintaining a stable trajectory and determined by the body's position and the gravitational field.
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
- Spacecraft velocity
- orbital vector
USAGE NOTE
A critical vector quantity that dictates the trajectory and stability of a spacecraft's orbit.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Orbital Velocity.
Designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. Their Falcon 9 and Starship vehicles are engineered to achieve precise orbital velocities to deploy satellites, cargo, and crew into various Earth orbits and beyond.
An aerospace company focused on small satellite launch services. Their Electron launch vehicle is specifically designed to accelerate small payloads to the high speeds required to achieve and maintain a stable low Earth orbit.
A provider of spacecraft launch services to the U.S. government. ULA's Atlas and Vulcan rockets are built to deliver national security and scientific payloads to specific orbits, requiring precise control systems to reach and circularize at the correct orbital velocity.
The U.S. civil space agency responsible for space exploration and research. NASA's launch systems and mission planning are fundamentally based on the principles of orbital mechanics, calculating and achieving the necessary velocities for missions from the ISS to deep space probes.
A European launch service provider that operates the Ariane and Vega rocket families. The company specializes in placing satellites into geostationary transfer and low Earth orbits, a process entirely dependent on achieving specific, high-speed orbital velocities.
An aerospace manufacturer developing rockets for space access. Their New Glenn reusable orbital launch vehicle is being engineered to carry heavy payloads, requiring a powerful propulsion system to accelerate the vehicle to the ~17,500 mph needed for low Earth orbit.
The national space agency of India, which designs and operates a fleet of launch vehicles like the PSLV and GSLV. ISRO's primary function is to launch satellites, a task that centers on accelerating spacecraft to the exact velocity required for their intended orbit.
The state space corporation of the Russian Federation. Roscosmos operates the Soyuz and Angara launch vehicle families, which are workhorses for lifting crew and cargo to the International Space Station and placing satellites in orbit, all requiring precise achievement of orbital velocity.