Why does an astronaut float in outer space?

Answer 1

When you see astronauts in space, they are in orbit. A person or object in orbit is essentially in freefall. If you have gone on a roller coast or gone bungee jumping, you will have found that you feel weightless when you are in freefall. It is the same case with astronauts in orbit. Another way of seeing it is that the astronauts are falling at the same rate that the spacecraft is.

Answer 2

They 'float' because they are in orbit. Being in orbit means that the space station plus the astronauts are 'falling' along in their orbit . . . 'falling' together at the same rate, so there is really nothing to force the astronauts in any particular direction.

If you prefer, you can say that the outward force on the space station and astronauts due to their "circling" the Earth exactly cancels out the inward force of Earth's gravity.

Answer 3

Astronauts float in space for two reasons.

1) When they are in Earth orbit, as in a space station, they are in "free fall," falling "around" the Earth even as it pulls down on them. The same type of weightlessness can be experienced on many rollercoasters as they rapidly descend toward the ground.

2) If they leave the immediate vicinity of Earth (as on a trip to the Moon) the effect of Earth's gravity is extremelydiminished by the distance from it. This is also why the Sun, although it holds the Earth in orbit, does not yank humans off the planet by its superior gravity. This reduced gravity can be counteracted by even the slightest muscular movements.

Answer 4

This is the same question as "Why do people climb mount Everest?". The comedic answer to that is "Because it's there".

Everyone has heard that truism. But let's look at what we have discovered by going into space for a moment. Here's a few things that have been discovered or our knowledge enhanced through space exploration;

• LED Light emitting diodes and LCD (Developed as low power displays)
• High speed processors
• Advancements in Rocketry
• TTL logic (now old hat)
• advancements in mechanical engineering.
• Chemistry
• Battery technology
• Astronomy
• Telemetry

... and I'm sure you can think of many others things. (or just cruise the NASA website).

Then there is the challenge of just going there! Why did Columbus sail the Atlantic when the general opinion was its was impossible? Why did Neil Armstrong and his crew travel to the moon?

Were back to the "Because it's there" phrase again.

Answer 5

There is an absence of gravity within the space capsule.

Answer 6

They float because their is less gravitational pull on them when they are in orbit.

Answer 7

Arya bhatta