Free Fall from Selene

> I think aerobraking is the only way it could be done. But yes, I could
> conceive of a system where an electromagnetic launcher on the far side
> of the moon propels a small vehicle on an S-curve which contacted the
> Earth's outer atmosphere. Aerobraking could then be used to reduce the
> apogee to the desired altitude, and then at apogee a very modest
> thruster firing could be used to circularize the orbit.

It's easy to estimate the speed necessary for this. Take the escape
velocity of the moon and add on the orbital speed of the moon.

It's about 3.3km/s or so, plus another burn to circularise after
the aerobraking. Not sure what that would take. The direction is
directly backwards along the orbital line.

I think the circularising burn might be 1-1.5 km/s IRC.