Revealing mistake: At different points during the Metrons' transmission to the Enterprise, both Kirk and the Gorn pop into the picture a few seconds after the rocky landscape appears. (00:37:00 - 00:37:55)
Revealing mistake: As Kirk and the Gorn battle, they briefly confront each other from opposite sides of a dead tree which has truncated limbs. One of the larger tree limbs on this supposedly uninhabited, tiny world has obviously been cut off with a chain saw or similar cutting instrument.
Chosen answer: If they're in orbit, they're being pulled along by the planet's gravity well, therefore, impulse engines would only be used for minor corrections and would be "on standby" while in orbit, but not active. (Like keeping your car idling without revving the engine and creating plumes of exhaust).
Captain Defenestrator
Thank you for the info.
Movie Nut