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Because it is falling. Really. We call it "free fall" rather than "weightlessness", because things in space still have weight; it's just that when we're falling, we don't FEEL the weight. We only feel it when we are RESISTING the weight, such as standing on the Earth, or sitting or standing. Make a parachute jump, and before you open your parachute you won't be "weightless", but you WILL be in "free fall".
So what's the difference between a satellite and a Basketball? The ball isn't going very fast, and it will hit the ground - and bounce. A satellite is moving SIDEWAYS so fast that by the time it has fallen, the satellite has already missed the Earth. And it KEEPS moving so fast that the satellite KEEPS MISSING! This happens because there is no (or very little) air in space, so there is nothing to cause the satellite to slow down.
The lowest practical orbits are about 120 miles up; much lower, and the satellite will encounter some tiny trace of air resistance, which will begin to slow the satellite down and cause it to fall to Earth. At that altitude, the orbital velocity is about 18,000 miles per hour.
What else can I help you with?
A small object in orbit around a planet is a?
Satellite. Satellites can be natural, like the Moon, or artificial like GPS satellites.
What are natural satellites?
Natural satellites are things like our own moon that orbit a planet.In our solar system there are 173 natural satellites that we know of.
How low do satellites fly?
Satellites can orbit at different altitudes depending on their purpose. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites typically orbit from 160 to 2,000 kilometers above the Earth's surface, while geostationary satellites are much higher, at about 35,786 kilometers. Various factors like communication, weather monitoring, or surveillance determine the satellite's optimal orbit.
Why are the planets called satellites of the sun?
They are natural satellites of the sun. A satellite an object that orbits another object , for a example the moon would be a natural satellite to earth. That is why planets are satellites, they orbit the sun.
Does many artificial satellites orbit earth?
There are hundreds. If that seems like "many" to you, then the answer is 'yes'.
How do objects in space, such as satellites and astronauts, overcome the force of gravity to stay in orbit and avoid falling back to Earth?
Objects in space, like satellites and astronauts, stay in orbit by moving at a high speed horizontally. This speed creates a balance between the force of gravity pulling them towards Earth and their forward motion, allowing them to continuously fall towards Earth without actually hitting it.
What are spying satellites?
satellites that spy typically in a low earth orbit with a big telescope looking down at the ground, like google satellite on steroids
Why are the planets considered satellites to the sun?
Planets are not classified as satellites of the Sun. Satellites are objects that orbit planets, while planets orbit the Sun directly. Planets are considered celestial bodies that revolve around a star like the Sun.
What object in space do not directly orbit the sun?
Planetary satellites, like the moon; other stars, galaxies.
Are the planets like moons to the sun?
The planets are satellites of the sun. The moons are satellites of the planets. The moons revolve around the planets captured by their gravity, while the planets revolve around the sun captured by its gravity and the sun.
Does the sun have a satellite?
Yes because what orbits the sun:the 9 planets count as satellites.
What are man-made satellites?
Man-made satellites are artificial objects placed into orbit around Earth or other celestial bodies to perform various functions such as communication, weather monitoring, navigation, and scientific research. They are launched into space by rockets and are designed to orbit the Earth at different altitudes depending on their specific purpose.
