What is Earth’s approximate escape velocity at its surface?

Earth’s approximate escape velocity at its surface is 11.2 km/s.

Escape velocity is the minimum speed an object needs, without further propulsion or aerodynamic resistance, to move away from a body indefinitely. At Earth’s surface, the value is about 11.2 kilometres per second, or roughly 40,300 kilometres per hour.

This speed is calculated from Earth’s mass and radius. It is not the speed a rocket must instantly reach at launch, because real rockets continue thrusting, lose energy to air resistance and gravity, and follow changing trajectories.

Escape velocity also changes with altitude and the body’s gravity. The Moon’s escape velocity is only about 2.38 km/s, while the Sun’s surface escape velocity is about 617.7 km/s. Earth’s orbital speed around the Sun is a separate measurement and should not be confused with escape velocity from Earth.