What is the term for the minimum speed an object must reach to break free from a planet's gravitational pull?
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Escape velocity
To leave Earth's surface and head into deep space, a spacecraft must reach a speed of about 25,000 miles per hour. This speed depends on the mass of the planet; for example, escape velocity on the Moon is much lower due to its weaker gravity.
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- What term describes the velocity required for an object to overcome a celestial body's gravity?