Continuity mistake: Lincoln asks Kirk if they measure time in minutes and Kirk replies "We can convert it." In every previous episode they've always used minutes - their ship chronometers are still set to minutes.
Continuity mistake: During the hand-to-hand fight scene, the stunt double playing Spock gets his hair mussed up, but immediately after the fight, Spock's hair is neatly combed and formed, as it was before the fight.
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