[extropy]

That's essentially what GTO is - an orbit going close and fast at one side and going high and almost stopped at high side.

Going directly up means over 1h of fighting earth gravity. So need Isp > 3600. Much cheaper to go for orbit.

[logfromblammo]

An elliptical orbit that intersects the surface of the massive body at the periapsis side is fine, if you can change the orbit when you reach apoapsis.

But if you miss the cable, you're boned.