Orbits and satellites

Planets and satellites are held in orbits by gravitational forces. Satellites experience forces with planets and planets experience forces with the Sun.
Satellites can be natural, like a moon, or artificial, like the International Space Station.
Gravitational forces keep planets and satellites travelling in circular paths.
The speed of an orbiting object is \(\text{speed}=(2\pi\times\text{orbital radius})\div\text{period of orbit}\).
If the speed of the orbiting object changes, then its orbital radius must also change. If it doesn’t, then the orbit will become unstable.

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