Orbits are not intuitive. It actually takes the same amount of energy to exit an orbit as it does to enter it. (The only reason we can get away with a “free” return on Earth is because the atmosphere is doing the work for us.)
Once you leave Earth’s orbit, you are in an extremely high orbit around the Sun, which requires a frankly ridiculous amount of energy to slow down from.
Ah it makes sense, I forgot to consider that the rocket accelerates relative to earth, but not so much relative to the speed of the earth itself relative to the sun. Did I get it right?
Right! The energy spent escaping Earth’s orbit does relatively little to affect the spacecraft’s orbit around the sun.
If you’re interested in getting an intuitive feel for this stuff, definitely pick up the game Kerbal Space Program (the original, not 2). There’s no better way to understand basic orbital mechanics.
Orbits are not intuitive. It actually takes the same amount of energy to exit an orbit as it does to enter it. (The only reason we can get away with a “free” return on Earth is because the atmosphere is doing the work for us.)
Once you leave Earth’s orbit, you are in an extremely high orbit around the Sun, which requires a frankly ridiculous amount of energy to slow down from.
Ah it makes sense, I forgot to consider that the rocket accelerates relative to earth, but not so much relative to the speed of the earth itself relative to the sun. Did I get it right?
Right! The energy spent escaping Earth’s orbit does relatively little to affect the spacecraft’s orbit around the sun.
If you’re interested in getting an intuitive feel for this stuff, definitely pick up the game Kerbal Space Program (the original, not 2). There’s no better way to understand basic orbital mechanics.