They are in the vacuum of space.
Because of free fall, astronauts in orbit appear weightless and float within their spacecraft. This is due to the spacecraft and everything inside it, including the astronauts, all falling towards Earth together at the same rate. The sensation of weightlessness is a result of this continuous state of free fall.
In orbit, astronauts appear weightless and float because they are in a state of constant freefall towards Earth. Due to the lack of air resistance and the gravitational pull being the only force acting on them, they experience the sensation of weightlessness.
Free fall
Astronauts appear weightless in their Earth-orbiting spacecraft because both the spacecraft and the astronauts are in a state of free fall towards Earth. While the spacecraft is moving forward at a high velocity, it is also falling towards the planet due to gravity. This continuous free fall creates a condition known as microgravity, where the effects of gravity are still present but are not felt by the astronauts, making them seem weightless relative to their surroundings.
Astronauts appear weightless in space because they are in a state of free fall, orbiting the Earth along with their spacecraft. This creates a condition known as microgravity, where both the astronauts and the spacecraft are falling towards Earth at the same rate, resulting in the sensation of weightlessness. Although gravity is still present, the lack of a solid surface to push against leads to this floating experience.
Astronauts appear weightless while working on the International Space Station (ISS) because both the astronauts and the ISS are in a state of continuous free fall towards Earth. This free fall creates a condition known as microgravity, where the effects of gravity are still present but significantly reduced. As the ISS orbits Earth at a high speed, it falls around the planet rather than straight down, resulting in the sensation of weightlessness for those inside.
Airplanes do not fly high enough to be unaffected by the force of gravity.
Weight is an expression of the gravitational force acting on an object. When the space shuttle is in orbit around the Earth, it is held there by the Earth's gravity. Since gravity is still acting on the shuttle and the astronauts inside, they still have weight. They are described as "weightless" because an object in orbit is in a constant state of free fall.
center of earth
The astronauts appear to be weightless as they are in a constant freefall, falling at the same speed as the space vehicle they are on. They are 'falling' but due to their angular speed, they are 'falling' around the earth, so don't crash into it. They still have their mass, but you can't really weigh the astronauts as any scales you try to use will read zero as the scales will also be 'falling' at the same rate.
There is no gravity in space, so everything (even liquid) will appear to 'float'.
Because of free fall in orbit, astronauts experience a continuous state of falling towards Earth while moving forward at a high speed. This results in a sensation of weightlessness, giving the appearance that they are floating or flying inside the spacecraft.