BriefTea
Every story in sixty words
Get the free app no ads · no paywallExplained in plain English
Orbits are like a continuous fall around a planet, rather than into it. Swift, for example, is constantly falling towards Earth, but it's also moving sideways so fast that it keeps missing the planet. This delicate balance of speed and gravity keeps satellites like Swift in their paths, high above us.
Stories that explain this
Robot launched to save falling NASA space telescopeQuestions this opens up
What is gravity? How fast do satellites go? Why don't satellites crash?Related explainers
What is atmospheric drag? How high is space? Who is Link the robot? How long do satellites last? What is orbital decay? What is orbital velocity? How do robots refuel? How do satellites get fuel?The full catalogue
Browse every card filed under O →We would like to count visits and see which links bring readers here. That means storing a random ID in your browser. No cookies, no ads, no profile. How it works.