Re: What makes a satellite stay in orbit?

What actually happens is that the satellite is falling towards the Earth, 
but it is moving forwards fast enough so that the Earth stays at the same 
height. You can understand more of this by looking at the centripetal/fugal 
force (depending on which books you read), F=(mv^2)/r, and equating that 
with the gravitational force, F=GMm/r^2.

This means that the "force" outwards, the centrifugal force, is equal to 
the pull of gravity.

It's like if you tie a stone to a string and whirl it round your head 
(don't try this at home!). The centrifugal force is the one which makes the 
string tight, the "Gravitational" force is you pulling the string.