Man-made satellites are held in orbit by the gravitational pull of the planet they're orbiting. Here's why:

* Gravity: Every object in the universe with mass has gravity. The Earth, for example, has a strong gravitational pull that keeps us on the ground.

* Orbit: A satellite in orbit is essentially falling towards the planet, but it's moving forward at such a speed that it constantly misses the planet. Imagine throwing a ball horizontally; it arcs downwards due to gravity. A satellite in orbit is like that ball, but moving so fast that it keeps missing the Earth and continuously circling it.

Let me break it down further:

* Centripetal Force: The Earth's gravity provides the centripetal force needed to keep the satellite moving in a circular path. Centripetal force is the force that pulls an object towards the center of a circular path.

* Orbital Velocity: The satellite must have the right orbital velocity (speed) to maintain its orbit. If it's too slow, it will fall to Earth. If it's too fast, it will fly off into space.

In short: Man-made satellites are held in orbit by a delicate balance between their forward velocity and the gravitational pull of the planet they're orbiting.