in space,why is Low Earth Orbit (LEO) discribed as "half-way to anywhere"?

Question

Go to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and you're "half-way to anywhere" they say.

Answer 1

To get to low Earth orbit you have to accelerate to 17,500mph. Earth's escape velocity is 25,000mph. Once you get into orbit you 'only' have to add another 7,500mph to your speed and you can, in theory, go anywhere in the solar system. In practice it's more complex than that, but the point is that the major effort is expended getting to low Earth orbit. Look at the Saturn V used to launch the Apollo spacecraft to the Moon. The entire first and second stages, as well as some of the fuel from the third stage, were needed just to get off the ground and into orbit barely 150 miles up. From there, however, a burn of a few minutes from the small third stage was enough to send them on a 250,000 mile journey to the Moon.

Answer 2

"Woof!"

"What was that, Lassie?"

"Woof! Woof!"

"You say Timmy is trapped in the well... again?"

"Woof! Woof! Woof!"

"Yeah, right, I just BET you didn't have anything to do with it... somehow you ALWAYS are there to rescue him, though, right?"

(we interupt this unfolding drama to bring you an important scientific message... "Halfway to anywhere" is a lot like Timmy getting his behind out of that well. once back on land, the clumsy boy can go anywhere he likes with little energy expendature, just like an orbital platform can launch probes to the Moon or Mars using low energy orbits)

(we now return to the previously interupted show)

"Timmy! Lassie saved you!"

"Saved me? That !@#$% pushed me down the well!"