Why are efficient hohman transfer orbit altitudes higher than lowest-safe orbit to avoid atmospheric drag, given the Oberth Effect would imply such would be most efficient?

Question

The Oberth effect says that due to higher relative velocity deep in a gravity well, the highest change in orbital energy for the least propellant can be achieved by burning at as low as an altitude as safe for a given body. E.g.: If earth had no atmosphere and mountains and we had infinite TWR, the best way to launch a rocket to the moon would be to burn horizontally from sea level.

However, this table for KSP implies that you can actually save propellant by burning from higher orbits for interplanetary transfers – assuming of course that you can refuel at these altitudes to avoid the cost of raising your orbit to these from sea level.

What’s the mechanism behind this? I thought the only reason to burn from higher orbits for interplanetary launches was if you were using a low TWR interplanetary stage so that the long maneuver makes up less of the orbit’s duration (e.g.: a 2 hour burn in low orbit that has a period of 90 minutes is impossible, but in synchronous orbit it
s just a small fraction of the period, so steering losses are minimized)

Edit: Table in question – https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/topic/33699-efficient-hohmann-transfer-altitudes/

In: Physics

Answer 1

What table?

In a lower orbit the burn is more efficient, but you are starting in a lower orbit – which effect is more important depends on the orbit and the target escape velocity. The faster you need to go the better lower orbits get.