What forces keep a satellite in orbit around Earth?

Two main forces keep a satellite in orbit: gravity and inertia. Gravity pulls the satellite towards Earth. Inertia is the satellite’s forward speed, which wants to keep it moving in a straight line. Together, these forces form a curved path called an orbit. The balance between falling down due to gravity and moving forward thanks to inertia lets satellites stay high above Earth without crashing down, like a ball circling in a tethered loop.