&gt; <i>Once you get to where you want to go, burn the other half, reach a dead stop, then parachute into the lower atmosphere, do an engine re-start, and be on your way.</i><p>I think that would require a shit ton of fuel. If you want to actually achieve orbit, that&#x27;s at least 7.8 km&#x2F;s of Δv to do it, and that much again to reach &quot;dead stop&quot;. Your B-52 would have to be carried <i>on</i> a booster rocket, as opposed to carrying one.<p>A <i>sub</i>orbital trajectory would make more sense, but that&#x27;s generally what the US has ICBMs for.