How Do Satellites Stay In Orbit? | The Schools' Observatory

A satellite is an object which orbits another. An orbit is the curved path that an object in space takes around another object.

The Moon is a natural satellite of the Earth. The Earth is a natural satellite of the Sun. But there are artificial satellites as well. Human-made objects that have been launched into space. Many of these orbit the Earth. Though some space probes orbit other planets (like Mars) or the Moon.

So how do satellites stay in orbit? Use the animations on this page to experiment and find out.

Approx Duration

< 15 mins

Take a look at the video to the left, and imagine you are holding the satellite above the Earth.

What will happen?

That's right! Gravity makes the satellite fall straight down to the surface.

This time, you will give the satellite a push in the direction of the red arrow.

Although the satellite still crashed into the Earth, it moved around the surface a bit, rather than falling straight down. If you pushed harder when you let go, it would get even further around before it crashed.

Let's try giving the satellite a really big push (shown by the big red arrow).

The satellite is still falling because of gravity, but the big push stopped it from getting any closer to the Earth. In fact, it will keep going forever! In other words, it is in orbit.

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