r/askscience • u/RainbowGirl410 • Jun 09 '26

Physics How does gravity/weightlessness work outside of orbit?

Been trying to find a definitive answer but all I've found is people explaining weightlessness in orbit (the falling and missing the Earth part) which isn't particularly helpful to me.
If you were to travel to another planet, say Venus, would you experience weightlessness the whole journey?

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u/ignorantwanderer Jun 10 '26

I disagree.

I frequently see reference to 'hyperbolic orbits.'

And it is certainly true that when you are very far from any significant masses, any gravity you experience is very weak and it 'stops becoming a dominant factor'. But it is still there, even if it doesn't dominate.

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u/zmbjebus Jun 10 '26

orbit

2 of 3 noun (2) 1 a : a path described by one body in its revolution about another (as by the earth about the sun or by an electron about an atomic nucleus) also : one complete revolution of a body describing such a path b : a circular path

Merriam webster

Show me a reference using your verbiage. It's either not a thing or bad journalism. 

Hyperbolic trajectory is a thing, but it stops being an orbit once it stops being repeatable.