Gravity beyond the Earth

In this section, we will take a look at gravity a bit further away – firstly at   how gravity behaves on the moon, which is our nearest natural neighbour in space; and then we will look at how   man-made satellites are held in space by gravity. Finally we will take a look at ‘weightlessness’ and how it might feel like to be an astronaut.

Full Moon

Full Moon Photographed by Expedition 10

Courteay of NASA

Full Moon
Courteay of NASA

Full Moon

Full Moon Photographed by Expedition 10

Courteay of NASA

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The Moon is the Earth’s next-door-neighbour in space. Everything else in the solar system is much further away. Because of this it has been studied more than most other objects in the Solar System.   Space probes have been sent crashing into it and orbiting around it, and people have even walked on it.