# Circular Orbit Velocity using R_E

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V_"cs" =
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vCalc.Circular Orbit Velocity using R_E
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This equation computes the velocity, V_"cs" for a satellite in a circular orbit given the orbit radius, r.

This is assuming a spherical Earth model and uses the fact that for a circular orbit the semi-major axis equals the radius of the orbit, which is constant. The picture below shows the distance r for an elliptical orbit and its easy to see that the distance r of the satellite from the Earth changes throughout the orbit.  Bot this equation makes the simplifying assumption that the orbit is perfectly circular, which is just a special case of an elliptical orbit.

V_"cs"= 7.905366 (R_E/r)^(1/2), where V_"cs" is in km/sec.

# Notes

For many analyses the spherical Earth approximation is adequate.  See the WGS-84 constants to see some of the the variations in Earth models.

Note that the orbit's radius, r, must be greater than the radius of the Earth R_e or else we would be hearing a very strange rumbling beneath or feet.

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