Apologizing for the spinless moon (was Gregg Maryniak on Economist.c

Until people learn to use math, they're always going to be confused by these numbers, not realizing that K.E.=1/2mv^2 says that for every doubling of velocity required to reach escape velocity, the energy required to attain that quadruples. Thus, though lunar escape Velocity is 2.38 km/sec vs earths escape velocity of 11.186 km/sec and the ratio between those is 4.7, the energy required is the square of that figure or 22.09. It's an easy calculation, if you know what you're doing,,,I might note that, while Space Ship one was a marvelous accomplishment, it only reached 3518 km/hr, while roughly 32,000 km/hr was required for orbit. with a Delta v ratio of 9.1,squaring this gives a requirement for 81 times more energy,,,. Burt has a long way to go to get to orbit,,,