: There's also a difference between a velocity required to position an object
: in unpowered orbit at a certain distance, vs simply moving away from a
: planet. You never need to reach escape velocity if you're just going
: straight up and away. But as mentioned, if you want to put an object in
: orbit , without power of its own, you need to give it enough velocity to
: remain in orbit.

: Escaping the gravity well for a powered vessel doesn't require escape
: velocity.
: Launching an unpowered object into orbit does; and that required velocity
: will be different depending on where you want it to stay (if not to
: continue into space).

: One could say the minimal velocity required to applied to an object so as to
: not return to Earth would be the amount required to launch an object
: straight up into unassisted geosynchronous orbit, which would vary
: depending on mass and distance from Earth. Any angle (orbit) to that
: trajectory, or departure from Earth, would require adjustments to the
: variables, and a greater energy requirement.

This has been a great discussion. I wish it happened more on HBO. I miss discussions like these from days gone by.