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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Re: How did this rocket stage gain the energy to get to the moon?
« on: 07/03/2022 20:19:54 »So yes they can, to both points.Nothing in orbit around earth has ever impacted the earth?Not without application of force to reduce its orbital energy. Hence retro thrusters on any orbiter returning to Earth, and friction of the upper atmosphere which degrades the orbit of anything that gets close (within 1000 km) of Earth. The moon has no atmosphere, so something can in principle orbit 10 meters up and still never hit it.QuoteNothing can orbit the moon that itself is orbiting the earth?There are three body orbital solutions, but not stable ones.