The core problem here is that there has been an explicit change of text from 2nd to 3rd edition. In 3rd, we have:
Quote:
By expending a point of fuel, the ship may enter
clockwise or counter-clockwise orbit. On a later
turn it may burn fuel to leave orbit to return to the
planetary surface or venture into space.
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In 2nd (1981), we have:
Quote:
By expending fuel, the ship may enter clockwise or counter-
clockwise orbit (or otherwise maneuver as desired). When in
orbit, the ship may then leave orbit to return to the planetary
surface or venture into outer space by burning fuel to change course.
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Clearly, "or otherwise maneuver as desired" has been removed. What a lot of us have been asking is: was this intended to be a deliberate rule change to force ships to enter orbit after takeoff, or was it coincidental?