I am not trolling, but trying to lead a conversation based on arguments. You, on the other side, do not have any arguments... your only argument is that I am trolling. Look, check this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGimzB5QM1M
This is how it works - at one point the rocket has 0 velocity, but does not fall back to earth. They can do that at any altitude. You made so many false statements, that clearly show that YOU are the one that should learn about physics Your statement: "Anything less than escape velocity and the spacecraft is pulled back into the atmosphere." is simply ridiculous.
1. The OP stated that he is interested in what theoretical solutions there are + is it required to reach escape velocity.
2. You stated:
>Yes, escape velocity is required. Mere position won't do it.
> Remember that velocity is what carries a spacecraft away from Earth's gravitational field. Anything less than escape velocity and the spacecraft is pulled back into the atmosphere.
Which is wrong, regardless of the context. And you agreed to it after I pointed out the first result from a google search. And let's not even start with this statement:
> Remember that velocity is what carries a spacecraft away from Earth's gravitational field. Anything less than escape velocity and the spacecraft is pulled back into the atmosphere.
This is ... you guessed it ... wrong. I am not sure if I should explain you why.
Lets just say that an object can have no velocity (a.k.a. not moving at all) and still not be "pulled back into the atmosphere".
You are one hell of a troll for a space shuttle engineer :)
I am not talking about sci-fi either ... only giving a simple example about how it actually works.
Anyone with even basic knowledge in physics will know that you are wrong. Please research a little bit to see why you are wrong. An object can leave the earth's gravitational pull at ANY speed. I just googled the topic, one of the first results: https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=200709040459...
This is completely wrong.
Escape velocity is the speed, which is required to break free of the gravitational pull, BUT in the case that no additional propulsion is available. In other words, you shoot an object with that speed from the surface of the earth and provide no additional force to accelerate it or keep the speed constant. You can leave the earth's gravitational pull with ANY speed. Assume that there was a magically (geostationary) floating platform 300 km above earth. There are absolutely no problems for someone on that platform to pull you up with a rope. Imagine a 1km high skyscraper... Do you need to reach certain speed if you were to be pulled to the top of the skyscraper?! No, speed is irrelevant. What is important is to have a constant force, which is in the opposite direction of the gravity which is equal or greater than G.
How is this different than say... http://www.dopdf.com/?
This is really a crowded space with plenty of free alternatives that are quite easy to use and work flawlessly
This is how it works - at one point the rocket has 0 velocity, but does not fall back to earth. They can do that at any altitude. You made so many false statements, that clearly show that YOU are the one that should learn about physics Your statement: "Anything less than escape velocity and the spacecraft is pulled back into the atmosphere." is simply ridiculous.