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Use the relative star–planet separation and specific angular momentum per unit reduced mass,For $r=l/(1+e\cos \theta )$, differentiation gives $\dot{r}=Je\sin \theta /l$, while the transverse speed is $r\dot{\theta }=J/r=J(1+e\cos \theta )/l$. Adding the squared orthogonal components yieldsThe Binet equation for the relative two-body inverse-square force is $u^{\prime \prime }+u=G(M+m)/J^2$, with $u=1/r$. The conic has $u^{\prime \prime }+u=1/l$, soThe printed division by $l$ is an error: $J^2$ has dimensions $\mathrm{lengt}{\mathrm{h}}^4/tim{\mathrm{e}}^2$, while $G(M+m)/l$ has dimensions of speed squared. A circular orbit independently checks the correction: $J^2=r^2{v}^2=G(M+m)r$, with $l=r$.

For a closed ellipse, $l=a(1-e^2)$ and $1+2e\cos \theta +e^2=2l/r-(1-e^2)$. Substitution now gives the vis-viva equation,This is relative orbital speed; either body's speed about the barycentre follows by the corresponding mass-ratio factor.

In units where a circular planet has orbital radius and speed one, the particle's relative speed $u$ outside a close encounter satisfies $u^2=3-T$, to leading order in the planet-to-star mass ratio. This follows from the vis-viva equation and $u^2=v^2+1-2h_z$ at the encounter radius. A short conservative encounter changes the direction of this relative velocity while preserving its magnitude.

In the circular-Earth-orbit, unpowered patched conic approximation, the least Earth-relative excess speed for direct solar-surface contact lowers the heliocentric tangential speed to that of an ellipse with apocentre $a$ and pericentre $R_{\odot }$. The vis-viva equation gives $v_a=v_E\sqrt{2R_{\odot }/(a+R_{\odot })}$, so the retrograde excess magnitude is $v_E-v_a$ and the terrestrial surface launch speed is the title expression. Cancelling all heliocentric angular momentum instead produces radial fall to a point Sun and the larger estimate $\sqrt{v_{e,E}^2+v_E^2}$. Rotation, planetary gravity assists and atmospheric drag are outside this direct-flight model.

For a Kepler orbit with semi-major axis $a$, the vis-viva equation isFor the convention that a hyperbolic Kepler orbit has positive semi-major-axis magnitude $a$, its final term instead has a plus sign.