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Name:  Steve L.
Status:  other
Age:  30s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2000-2001
Question:
Why is it necessary to reach escape velocity to leave earth. If a rocket can get any distance at all off the ground, it should be able to continue at "any" speed. I suspect it has to do with fuel use and efficiency.

Replies:
At any smaller speed, your path would be an ellipse, and bring you back around to orbit the earth (or even crash into it). If it were to work at any speed, then a baseball that is hit could leave the earth. Most stay in the ball park. Some land across the street.

---Nathan A. Unterman


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