If that were the case then you could get into orbit by simply going straight up.  Why do they go laterally up to 8km&#x2F;s then? (if not to generate an &#x27;outward&#x27; force?).<p>There are two vectors being added here.  One is gravity.  The other is a tangental&#x2F;outward vector.  When added together, they form an orbit.  Ignore one, and you leave orbit, either by going into space, or smashing into earth.  But there are clearly two forces&#x2F;vectors.  And one of them, is having it&#x27;s direction changed by the other, and thus is acceleration... I don&#x27;t know what other words I can use to describe it. But I fail to see where I&#x27;m wrong :\