AstroLab
Gravity, architect and engine
Why do satellites not fall to the ground? From orbits to gravity assists and Webb, one attraction explains very different motions.
3 min 49 s · Interactive subtitled film
Takeaway: Orbiting means falling while moving forward; gravity is still present.
Useful background
Rotation and orbit; speed and distance.
How can a planet assist a spacecraft?
The journey · 6 chapters
- Falling towards a centre
- What changes the pull
- An orbit is not always a circle
- Changing course in space
- An assist to travel farther
- Webb, keeping its instruments cold
Why explore it?
French and English subtitles. Adjustable playback speed, free navigation and sequence reframing. AI-assisted editorial review.