The Real Reason Why Astronauts Are Weightless in Space!
We all watch NASA documentaries where we see astronauts floating around, and in the International Space Station. The first answer of most people to the question of how they can be so light to literary float in the air, is 'because there's no gravity in the space'.
If this was your answer as well, you'll be quite surprised when you find out the true reason behind the weightlessness of astronauts in space.
First of all, the given answer is totally wrong as space does have gravity. Otherwise, the moon won't remain in its orbit around the Earth, and the Earth in its orbit around the Sun. Gravity is what keeps them on their track, and what keeps galaxies together.
Gravity enabled the Felix Baumgartner's famous jump from the edge of space possible. And here, you may think how gravity doesn't pull down satellites and the Space Station?
The answer to this question gives the answer suggested in the title of this article. It's because of speed! The truth is, all objects in the Earth orbit, including the International Space Station and astronauts, aren't floating, but constantly falling, and not down but around the Earth.
That's right, they don't fall to Earth but keep falling around it, traveling at a minimum of 28,160 km/h. The Earth is curving away beneath them, as they speed up towards it, so they never succeed to get any closer. Having the same acceleration rate as the space station, astronauts feel weightless.
Source: Universe Today , Physics Classroom
