Weight is the force of gravity pulling down on objects located at Earth’s surface. Your weight decreases as you move to higher elevations. The weight of an object depends upon its location in the universe. You would weigh six times less on the Moon than on Earth. Astronauts in an orbiting satellite are falling freely to Earth. The weight of any object in the spacecraft cannot be detected. Astronauts practice performing tasks in simulated weightless conditions. One location is underwater since water reduces the weight of submerged objects. When a satellite is launched into orbit, it needs to be accelerated to a sideways velocity. This keeps it on an oval or circular path.