Why do astronauts feel weightless in orbit?

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Astronauts feel weightless in orbit because both they and their spacecraft are in free fall towards Earth, creating a condition where there is no normal force acting on them. On Earth, the sensation of weight comes from the normal force exerted by the ground. In orbit, since the spacecraft and the astronaut are falling at the same rate, this normal force is absent, leading to the experience of weightlessness. This phenomenon is a result of the continuous state of free fall rather than a lack of gravity. Understanding this concept is crucial for comprehending the unique conditions of space travel.
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Why does an astronaut in a spacecraft orbiting the Earth experience a feeling of weightlessness?
 
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parwana said:
Why does an astronaut in a spacecraft orbiting the Earth experience a feeling of weightlessness?
What do you normally feel when you are at rest on earth? What would be different if you were in a spacecraft in orbit?
 
The sensation of weight is really the normal force the floor exerts on you. If you are in orbit, both you and the floor are falling with the same speed towards Earth, so there is no normal force and no weight sensation.
 
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