ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Paper plane launched from space

Imagine you have a paper plane, just like the one you make by folding a piece of paper. Now, imagine you take this paper plane very, very high up into space using a spaceship.

Once you're in space, you don't have to worry about gravity pulling your paper plane down to the ground. Instead, your paper plane will float around because there's no air to slow it down or drag it back down to Earth.

But if you give your paper plane a big push, it will start to fly forward. The force from the push will create momentum for your paper plane, meaning it will keep moving forward in the same direction even if you let go. Just like when you throw a ball, it continues to move forward.

Now, because there's no air in space, your paper plane won't be able to stay in the air for very long. Without air to keep it flying, your paper plane will eventually slow down and come to a stop.

So that's what happens when you launch a paper plane from space. It will float around for a little while, but eventually it will slow down and stop moving.
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