Weightlessness

Weightlessness is the experience (by people and objects) during freefall, of having no apparent weight. This condition is also known as microgravity (see below).

Weightlessness in a spaceship

Weightlessness for a more extended period of time occurs in a spaceship outside the earth's atmosphere, as long as no propulsion is applied, and that it is not rotating about its axis; orbiting the earth this is the case except when rockets are on for orbital maneuvers, and until atmospheric re-entry.

Related Topics:
Spaceship - Orbital maneuver - Atmospheric re-entry

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A rocket ship that is accelerating by firing its rockets is a very different matter. Even if the rocket is accelerating uniformly, the force is applied to the back end of the rocket by the gas escaping out the back. This force must be transferred to each part of the ship through either pressure or tension, and thus weightlessness is not experienced.

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