You can measure the mass of the earth and do the orbital mechanics calculations yourself. If it's going along a given vector at a given speed, its going to go to a certain height. Surely you're not suggesting the real destination is beyond the moon, or that instead of going to the moon they'll say they intend to, and then build the giant rocket, and accelerate it to sufficient speed to reach the moon, and then *spend even more fuel to slow down*. What are they really planning to go to Venus but no one would believe that so they're going to the moon instead? Are they going to accelerate it to lunar velocity and then have the astronauts get out and walk home? Maybe they'll get it up to enough speed to orbit the moon, and then just let it go up there and come back? A few dozen times. With various faked payloads. All so they can, what, save the expense of making the actual lander?