How Does Gravity Affect Space Travel?

Gravity is like a stretchy band that pulls things toward each other. When you're on Earth, it keeps you from floating away, but in space, gravity helps spacecraft move and turn directions by pulling them gently.

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Examples

  1. A ball rolls down a hill because gravity pulls it forward, just like how spacecraft are pulled by planets during a gravity assist.
  2. When you swing on a swing set, you go higher with each push, similar to how a spacecraft gains speed using gravity.
  3. If you drop a feather and a rock at the same time in space, they both fall together because there's no air to slow them down.

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