Convert Orbital Speed (ISS) to Mach 20

Convert Orbital Speed (ISS) (v_orb) to Mach 20 (Ma20) instantly and accurately.

Conversion Formula

Ma20 = v_orb × 1.125510594

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.

About Mach 20

Mach 20 ≈ 6,805.8 m/s (24,501 km/h) at ISA sea level - the peak heating regime of ballistic re-entry. Shock layer temperature exceeds 10,000 K; plasma sheath causes radio blackout. Space Shuttle decelerated through Mach 20 at ~75-80 km altitude; Apollo CM hit the atmosphere at ~Mach 36; ICBM warheads re-enter at Mach 18-24. DARPA HTV-2 reached Mach 20 in 2011. 1 Mach 20 = 6,805.8 m/s.

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