Why do astronauts float in space?
Astronauts float because they and their spaceship are falling around Earth together.
Pip’s answer
- Astronauts float because they and their spaceship are falling around Earth together.
- The ship falls just as fast as they do, so nothing holds them down.
- So they drift around, and even their snacks float in the air! Hehe!
- Wow-ee, astronauts can do flips in the air without even jumping!
Try it together
Can you float your arms slowly, like an astronaut?
For grown-ups
Astronauts on the International Space Station are not beyond gravity; it's still about 90 percent as strong as on the ground. They float because they and the station are in free fall around Earth, moving sideways so fast they keep missing it. Everything falls together, so they feel weightless.
Ask your child: What would be the most fun thing to do while floating?
More questions kids ask
- 🧑🚀Why do astronauts wear helmets?
- 🍎Why do things fall down?
- 🚀How do rockets go to space?
- 🌙Why does it get dark at night?
- ⭐Why do stars twinkle?
- 🌓Why does the moon change shape?
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