ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Gravity drag

Gravity drag is like when you try to throw a ball high up into the air. On the way up, it has to work against the pull of gravity, which makes it slow down. This is called gravity drag. The same thing happens when a spaceship takes off from the Earth's surface. As it flies upwards, it needs to work against gravity, which can slow it down and make it harder to reach its destination.

Think of it like a big balloon. When you let it go, it starts to rise up into the air because it's lighter than the air around it. But the higher it goes, the more it starts to slow down because it's fighting against the pull of gravity.

In space, gravity drag can be a big problem for spaceships trying to reach other planets or even just orbiting the Earth. To combat this, spaceships need to be designed with powerful engines that can propel them forward even as they're being held back by gravity.

So, in short, gravity drag is like a big force that makes things slow down when they're trying to fly or move away from the surface of the Earth. It's an important thing to consider when designing spacecraft and other flying vehicles.
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