Convert Mile/Minute (mi/min) to Cosmic Velocity - First (v₁) instantly.
About these units
Mile/Minute (mi/min)
A mile per minute corresponds to 60 miles per hour, making it a bridge between mph and high-speed conceptual measures. Aircraft climb rates, emergency vehicle response metrics, and theoretical speed comparisons sometimes use mi/min for rapid mental calculations. The unit is also used historically in railway performance, where achieving "a mile a minute" once symbolized extraordinary locomotive speed. Today it stands as both a technical unit and a romantic benchmark of transportation history.
Cosmic Velocity - First (v₁)
The first cosmic velocity is the minimum horizontal speed an object must achieve to enter a stable orbit around a planetary body without additional propulsion. For Earth, this value is about 7.9 km/s. At this speed, an object's forward motion precisely balances with the gravitational pull downward, creating continuous free-fall—the essence of orbital motion. This velocity is foundational in orbital mechanics. Spacecraft reaching Low Earth Orbit (LEO) must achieve at least this horizontal speed, even if their vertical ascent profile varies. Understanding v₁ was essential in the early space age: it represented the threshold between atmospheric flight and true spaceflight, marking human entry into the orbital era.