Continuity mistake: In the opening scenes, Sulu's retractable viewer isn't there when the Klingon ship approaches on the view screen. But a moment later in a closer shot, the viewer is suddenly in front of him, fully extended. (00:01:05)
Continuity mistake: In the turbolift, Chekov is standing to the left, but when the door opens he has moved to the right and exits behind Spock. (00:10:40)
Continuity mistake: When Kirk and Mara are in the transporter room for intraship beaming, Kirk is wearing his usual Starfleet boots with heels, but while Kirk and Kang are fighting Kirk is wearing flat bottom boots. (00:43:25)
Continuity mistake: At the end when the entity left the Enterprise, it came out of the secondary hull, however it left from the engineering dept. The Engineering dept. is located in the back of the primary hull.
Continuity mistake: The first time we see the ship travelling at Warp Nine, it is moving in a level, straight path. Next time, the rear end is elevated above the line of flight. The next time, it's moving in level flight again.
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