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How fast does a rocket have to travel to reach space?

If a rocket is launched from the surface of the Earth, it needs to reach a speed of at least 7.9 kilometres per second in order to reach space. This speed of 7.9 kilometres per second is known as the orbital velocity, referred to in German as the 'first cosmic velocity' – it corresponds to more than 20 times the speed of sound. At the start of the space age, Russian scientists applied the term 'cosmic velocities' to certain velocities that are important for space exploration. The 'first cosmic velocity', known as the orbital velocity, will bring a rocket or other projectile into orbit around the Earth. A slower projectile will fall back to Earth.

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