Choose the correct alternative:
$(a)$ If the zero of potential energy is at infinity,the total energy of an orbiting satellite is negative of its kinetic/potential energy.
$(b)$ The energy required to launch an orbiting satellite out of Earth's gravitational influence is more/less than the energy required to project a stationary object at the same height (as the satellite) out of Earth's influence.

(A) Kinetic energy
$(b)$ Less
Explanation:
$(a)$ The total mechanical energy $E$ of a satellite is the sum of its kinetic energy $K$ and potential energy $U$. For a satellite in a circular orbit,$E = -K = U/2$. Since $K$ is always positive,the total energy is negative,which is equal to the negative of its kinetic energy.
$(b)$ An orbiting satellite already possesses kinetic energy due to its orbital velocity. To escape the Earth's gravitational field,it needs to reach a total energy of zero. Since it already has some energy,the additional energy required to reach zero is less than the energy required for a stationary object at the same height,which has no initial kinetic energy.