Re: Comms relays?
Hum, I think that as soon as you get your satellite/comms relay going faster that about 11Kmsec-1 you no longer are in earth orbit but in some orbit around our sun (as long as you stay below about 615Kmsec-1). Lots of craft have done this. Kinda a prerequisite to visit places other than earth (moon excepted). As for getting a bit of delta V to go into an orbit not on the ecliptic, as as been pointed out, a funky planetary fly by can achieve this. Not too hard but maybe not required yet.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
