Orbital mechanics

Orbital mechanics is all about how planets and other objects move in space. When these objects move, they don't just go in a straight line—they move in something called an orbit. When something goes in an orbit, it follows a curved path around or close to something else—like a planet or star. For example, the Earth moves around the Sun in an orbit. To keep going in the same orbit around the Sun, the Earth needs a special kind of push or energy. This is called gravity. Gravity is like a force that pulls things towards each other, and between the Earth and Sun it helps keep the Earth in its orbit.