Why do astronauts orbiting Earth experience zero gravity?

Ah, but astronauts do experience gravity! In fact, without gravity, their ships and space stations would slip from orbit on a one-way trip out of the solar system (which, by the way, would also fly apart without gravity). Although Earth’s gravitational field is slightly less powerful hundreds of miles above the planet’s surface, it’s still more than strong enough to pluck passing space rocks or drifting satellites to the surface and hold the moon in orbit.

 

Picture Credit : Google