Convert Miles per Second to Orbital Speed (ISS)
Convert Miles per Second (mi/s) to Orbital Speed (ISS) (v_orb) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
v_orb = mi/s × 0.2100971279
About Miles per Second
A mile per second (mi/s) = exactly 1,609.344 m/s - above the fastest air-breathing aircraft. NASA X-43A scramjet: 2.9 km/s ≈ 1.8 mi/s (Mach 9.6). Earth's orbital speed around the Sun: ~18.5 mi/s (29.8 km/s). Light travels ~186,282 mi/s in vacuum - the classic imperial figure still used in popular astronomy. Tunguska impactor entered Earth's atmosphere at ~9-11 mi/s. 1 mi/s = 3,600 mph = 3,128.3 kn.
About Orbital Speed (ISS)
The ISS orbits at ~408 km altitude at ≈7,660 m/s (27,576 km/h) - the practical LEO benchmark. At this speed it completes one orbit in 92.68 min (15.5 orbits per day), giving astronauts 16 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours. Delta-v to reach LEO from Earth's surface is ~9,400 m/s (with gravity and drag losses). GEO at 35,786 km requires only ~3,075 m/s per Kepler's third law. 1 ISS speed ≈ 7,660 m/s.
Quick Reference Table
| Miles per Second (mi/s) | Orbital Speed (ISS) (v_orb) |
|---|---|
| 1 mi/s | 0.210097 v_orb |
| 2 mi/s | 0.420194 v_orb |
| 5 mi/s | 1.05049 v_orb |
| 10 mi/s | 2.10097 v_orb |
| 25 mi/s | 5.25243 v_orb |
| 50 mi/s | 10.5049 v_orb |
| 100 mi/s | 21.0097 v_orb |