[apendleton]

Orbit is mostly about speed, not about height. Going straight up and down doesn't count, even if you pass the height that some orbital vehicles attain.

This vehicle is actually going orbital speed, but not quite orbital height (or rather, it's in an "orbit" that has a very eccentric elliptical shape that would cause it to hit the atmosphere on its way back around; it'd be well above a typical orbital height at apogee, though).

[ta1243]

Technically you can orbit the earth at a pretty low speed. Geostationary satellites orbit about 5,500kph, which is far slower than the 26,000kph starship reached today.

You just need to get high enough, and be pointing in the right direction.