What does this equation mean?

Other NASA Discussion
1

So, my friend’s father got me a NASA license plate about not understanding rocket science. Of course, I can’t figure out what one of the equations is. The sign has laughably bad notation, but I think I’ve interpreted it correctly.

GxmxM/R=mx V[SUB]ESC2[/SUB]

Is the first equation. This is using the potential energy of a spacecraft/rocket to find escape velocity, right?

V2=Vp=r1 x v1 x sin 1/Rp

I can’t figure out what this means. I assume at the end it’s supposed to be sin(1/Rp), but that doesn’t help me much. Can someone who knows what they’re talking about fill me in? Thanks!

2

According to my authoritative NASA coffee mug, those are both formulas for escape velocity. Here’s one just like mine: http://www.thespaceshop.com/itonrosc.html

3

good