If Gravity in Space Is 90% as Strong as on Earth, Why Do Astronauts Float?
Science ABC
Aug 10, 2026 11:00
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If gravity in space is still about 90% as strong as it is on the ground, why do astronauts float around the International Space Station? In this video, we explain in simple words why "zero gravity" is a myth — and how astronauts, their coffee, and the entire ISS are actually in a permanent state of freefall around Earth.
Whether you're a curious student, a space enthusiast, or someone who has always wondered how orbits really work, this simple breakdown of microgravity, Newton's cannonball, and orbital speed will finally make it click.
CHAPTERS:
WATCH NEXT:
▶ Time Dilation – Einstein's Theory of Relativity – https://youtu.be/yuD34tEpRFw
▶ How Do Astronauts Get Oxygen Aboard the ISS? – https://youtu.be/I_cOqxZqjFU
▶ What Exactly is Spacetime? – https://youtu.be/3khY_bwf5FY
KEY TOPICS COVERED:
• Why astronauts float even though gravity is ~90% as strong at ISS altitude
• The difference between "zero gravity" and microgravity
• How freefall makes you feel weightless (the broken-elevator analogy)
• Newton's cannonball thought experiment and how orbit works
• The ISS orbital speed of 17,500 mph (28,000 km/h) — falling but always missing Earth
• Why everything inside the station floats together
• Bone density and muscle loss in microgravity, and how astronauts fight it
• Time dilation: why astronauts age slightly slower than people on Earth
#Astronauts #ISS #Microgravity #ZeroGravity #SpaceScience #Physics
REFERENCES:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8125950/
https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/for-kids-and-students/what-is-microgravity-grades-5-8/
https://www.usgs.gov/water-science-school/science/water-space-how-does-water-behave-outer-space
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/why-do-astronauts-space-station-float-180956965/
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Science & Technology
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