• News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
The real reason astronauts float in space is nothing to do with lack of gravity

Home> Science> Space

Published 16:04 13 Nov 2024 GMT

The real reason astronauts float in space is nothing to do with lack of gravity

It's a big misconception

Rebekah Jordan

Rebekah Jordan

Featured Image Credit: Vincent Besnault / Yuri_Arcurs / Getty
Science
Space
Nasa

Advert

Advert

Advert

If it wasn't for gravity, life on Earth wouldn't be anything like today.

The water in oceans, rivers and lakes would disappear, leaving Earth with no water supply, not to mention that we probably wouldn't survive.

And in space, were it not for gravity, there would be no planets, stars or even galaxies.

Gravity is what causes all these objects to form in the first place and prevents them from falling apart.

Advert

Moreover, the strength of gravity depends on how big the objects are and how far apart they are. As we were taught in schools, gravity is an invisible force that keeps everything grounded: 'What goes up, must come down.'

But, did you know that it isn't the lack of gravity in space that makes astronauts float? In fact, it's the opposite.

There is actually plenty of gravity in space (quantic69 / Getty Images)
There is actually plenty of gravity in space (quantic69 / Getty Images)

On Earth, gravity pulls objects towards the ground at a speed of 9.8 m/s² - the number is based on Earth’s size and mass. The further away you get from Earth, the weaker its gravity becomes.

Advert

And as far out as the International Space Station (ISS) is, it still feels about 90% of Earth’s gravity.

According to Space.com, the ISS is actually located in the thermosphere, a layer of Earth’s atmosphere that begins around 56 miles (90 km) above the surface and stretches up to 310–620 miles (500–1,000 km).

Here, temperatures can get extremely high, but the air is very thin.

For context, the thermosphere sits above the mesosphere, where meteors burn up as they enter because Earth’s gravity pulls them in, causing intense friction with the atmosphere.

Advert

In a vacuum, though, things are a little different. All objects fall at the same velocity, something known as 'free fall.'

Lack of gravity causing astronauts to float in space is a big misconception (NASA / Handout / Getty Images)
Lack of gravity causing astronauts to float in space is a big misconception (NASA / Handout / Getty Images)

This is completely different to the classic feather and brick experiment if you remember from science days.

If a person drops a brick and a feather, air will make the feather fall more slowly. But if there was no air, they would fall at the same speed.

Advert

For those in space, as US space agency NASA puts it: "The spacecraft, its crew and any objects aboard are all falling toward but around Earth. Since they are all falling together, the crew and objects appear to float when compared with the spacecraft."

And, believe it or not, they happen to be moving forward at a pretty fast velocity, 17,500 miles per hour (over 28,000 km per hour) to be exact. This speed perfectly opposes the force of gravity that's pulling them towards Earth, allowing them to 'float.'

Isn’t science the best?

Choose your content:

9 mins ago
17 hours ago
18 hours ago
20 hours ago
  • 9 mins ago

    Psychologist reveals simple everyday act that can has power to completely change your relationship

    Experts believe this mundane chore could be the key to keeping your relationship happy

    Science
  • 17 hours ago

    Scientist made shock admission ahead of NASA mission to asteroid 'worth $10,000,000,000,000,000,000'

    It's not what most people want to hear

    Science
  • 18 hours ago

    Ozempic users share shocking ‘Ozempic sex’ side effect that not many people know about

    It's not just your wasitline that could be shrinking

    Science
  • 20 hours ago

    Solar panels illegal in 49 states could transform energy for the USA

    A YouTuber showed how the solar panels can be plugged into a home outlet

    Science
  • The unexpected reason why astronauts aren't allowed to drink alcohol in space
  • NASA astronauts stranded in space for nine months finally emerge after months of intense therapy
  • Major study claims female astronauts are 'better' in space than men
  • Astronauts reveal what space smells like and it sounds disgusting