* Gravity: The satellite is constantly being pulled towards Earth by gravity.
* Orbital Velocity: The satellite is moving horizontally at a very high speed. This speed is just enough to constantly "miss" the Earth as it falls.
* Balance: The force of gravity pulling the satellite down is perfectly balanced by the satellite's inertia (its tendency to move in a straight line) pushing it outward.
Think of it this way: if you throw a ball horizontally, it will fall to the ground due to gravity. But if you throw it fast enough, it will travel further before hitting the ground. A satellite is essentially thrown at a speed so high that it continuously falls towards Earth but never actually hits it, instead orbiting it.
This is why astronauts in the International Space Station experience weightlessness. They are in freefall, just like the satellite itself.
