November Mission Model Discussion: M11 - ESCAPE VELOCITY (IMPORTANT GAME UPDATE INFORMATION!!!!)

Welcome to the November Mission Model Discussion! From now until just before Thanksgiving this space will feature ONE part of the FIRST LEGO League INTO ORBIT game challenge per day. The Robot Game is only 1/4th of the overall FIRST LEGO League challenge for teams this year!
This post is meant to be an aid, not a replacement for carefully reading the Challenge Guide and Updates!

Today we will explore M0 - ESCAPE VELOCITY

At the Beginning of the Match

The Launch Platform is secured to the South side of the mat. The spacecraft begins down on the blue LEGO of Strike Pad arm. The Strike Pad (orange) is raised to its maximum height (this happens naturally when the blue spacecraft is down).

Required for Scoring

The spacecraft uses the proper velocity (it goes up fast and high) to stay in the upper position only by using pressing or hitting the Strike Pad.

Conditions

The spacecraft must be moved by hitting or pressing the Strike Pad

Update

U07 - The spacecraft needs to be stuck at the very top of the Model as shown. Like with M04, please, the only solution here is the obvious one. Smash the Strike Pad and have as much fun as possible in the process. Unfortunately, this actually is rocket science, but just the impact and ballistics part.

Points

0 - The spacecraft is in the down position or was not moved by pressing/hitting the Strike Pad
24 - The spacecraft stays up after the Strike Pad is used to "launch it"

Note from Oregon Head Referee Tom

Will we see any methods for this mission besides brute force?  The Official Update on 11-5 is SIGNIFICANT.

Real World Impact

Reaching the precise speed to escape Earth's gravity and attain orbit was the first challenge at the start of the space program. It continues to be a challenge to find new less expensive, safer, reliable, and even reusable ways to get crews and payloads into Earth orbit. This is the first challenge for all of space exploration. Once we are off our planet it doesn't take a ton of energy to drift to our moon, and when we are patient we have even sent probes beyond our solar system. 

Discussion

This mission is literally rocket science. How scary is that for your team? Are they rising to the challenge or are their hopes falling back to Earth?  How much force does it take to get the spacecraft to stay at the top? Can you have too much force?