Yes, gravity works in space. Astronauts aboard an orbiting spacecraft appear to float because they and their spacecraft are falling together around Earth, not because Earth has stopped pulling on them.
What orbit really means
A spacecraft moves forward fast enough that, as it falls toward Earth, the curved planet’s surface drops away beneath it. The result is continuous free fall around Earth, which creates the familiar weightless-looking environment.
Why the space station does not fall straight down
Without its sideways orbital speed, a station would descend much more directly. The combination of gravitational attraction and high sideways velocity maintains its path, though some atmospheric drag remains at low Earth orbit.
Mass versus apparent weight
Mass is the amount of matter in an object and does not change in orbit. What changes is the support force that a floor or scale normally exerts. In free fall, objects and people share nearly the same acceleration.
Why experiments use microgravity
Small accelerations from airflow, movements and other effects still exist, so scientists often call the environment microgravity. It lets researchers study liquids, materials and biological systems without the dominant effects of everyday settling.
Frequently asked question
Is gravity weaker on the International Space Station?
Yes, somewhat, because it is farther from Earth’s center—but Earth’s pull remains strong enough to hold the station in orbit.
Source and further reading
See the NASA reference for additional scientific background.
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