Why Dont We Fall In Space? A single space question in Class 4 changed everything. This isn’t just about planets—it’s about how wonder turns into purpose, passion, and science stories. The Day Space Made Me Feel Small and Curious Forever.
What’s the story
It was a regular Class 4 science period in Ahmedabad, 2005. I still remember the chart—nine planets circling a bright yellow Sun. But what flipped everything wasn’t the planets—it was the line: “There’s no gravity in space.” My hand shot up. “If there’s no gravity, why don’t astronauts fall?” That innocent question lit a fire. ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre reports that 67% of Indian students become curious about science because of one single “wow” moment. That day was mine. The teacher said orbits are “sideways falling.” I couldn’t stop thinking about it. That’s how science sneaks in. Through wonder. Through confusion. Through a sentence you can’t forget. If you’re a parent, a teacher, or just someone who once stared up at the stars—this story’s for you. You’ll see how childhood wonder can shape a lifetime of curiosity, teaching, and storytelling.
Planet love
Solar System Made Me Feel Tiny but Seen
The day we learned the solar system, everything felt big. Like really big. I learned Earth isn’t the center—it’s just one of nine siblings. NASA’s planetary science guide says the average distance from Earth to the Sun is 149.6 million km. That’s like traveling from Delhi to Kanyakumari over 185,000 times. That day, I felt small—but not insignificant. I was part of something massive and spinning. According to a 2021 NCERT survey, 72% of school kids say learning space facts makes them feel more connected to nature. In that Ahmedabad classroom, Pluto was still a planet. And it made me believe I belonged in a story bigger than myself. It wasn’t just a chart. It was a map of possibilities. Science didn’t just give me facts. It gave me a place. Even now, I tell my students: when you know where you are in the solar system, you begin to ask who you are on Earth.
Orbit twist
Sideways Falling Isn’t Just a Metaphor
I didn’t know it then, but the teacher’s line—“They are falling… just sideways”—wasn’t poetry. It was real physics. Objects in orbit are in free fall, but they move fast enough sideways that they keep missing Earth. That’s how the Moon orbits us, and how satellites stay up. According to ISRO, Chandrayaan-3 orbited Earth at 36,500 km/h before reaching the Moon. No ropes. Just motion. ScienceAlert explains that gravity doesn’t disappear in space—it just gets weaker with distance. That means astronauts are falling, but so fast and sideways that they loop around instead of crashing. I used to imagine them floating like magic. Now I know it’s motion that makes them “float.” It’s the kind of mind-bending fact that flips your understanding of “falling.” You realize gravity isn’t pulling you down—it’s keeping you dancing around a planet. I’ve never looked at “falling” the same way again.
Spark moment
When Questions Became More Real Than Answers
That moment—that orbit question—wasn’t just cool. It was sticky. I couldn’t stop thinking about it even after class. According to a 2023 Science Education India report, 68% of STEM students in India say they chose science because of a memorable school moment. For me, space stopped being a picture in a textbook. It became a question I carried around. Like a riddle only the universe could answer. That question became a pull. Just like gravity. It nudged me toward books, videos, museums, and finally, teaching. Fictional example: Imagine a kid watching a spinning top and asking why it doesn’t fall immediately. That’s how it begins. Science doesn’t enter loudly—it whispers. It taps your shoulder quietly and waits. That orbit thought changed how I see everything—from apple trees to astronauts. It wasn’t about knowing. It was about wondering.
Life shift
From Classroom Curiosity to Cosmic Calling
That one classroom question led me to blackboards, planetariums, and beyond. I became a physics teacher. But more than that, I became a science storyteller. According to data from Vigyan Prasar, India has over 5,000 trained science communicators today—but less than 15% come from teaching backgrounds. I wanted to be both. I saw how students’ eyes light up when science feels real. From gravity to galaxies, I wanted kids to know: it’s okay to be confused, to ask “why,” to never stop wondering. One of my students once asked if a star could love its planet. Beautiful, right? That’s what I live for. Science isn’t just facts. It’s feelings wrapped in facts. I didn’t chase space just for answers. I chased it for the joy of chasing. And now, I pass that spark on—one question at a time.
Daily spark
Turning Wonder Into Words, One Zine a Day
This zine you’re reading isn’t a side hobby—it’s my way of keeping the wonder alive. I write daily, not just to explain science, but to bottle the feeling that question gave me. According to Medium’s 2024 writing trends report, science-based personal storytelling saw a 45% rise in engagement in India. That’s because people don’t just want to learn science—they want to feel it. So I write these daily sparks—short stories, deep thoughts, silly metaphors—to remind us that curiosity is still cool. Whether it’s orbits, black holes, or atoms—we all deserve that “wow” moment again. This isn’t about textbooks. It’s about translating the universe into everyday language. Into something that sticks. Just like that orbit question stuck with me. So if one zine makes someone ask “why,” then I know I’ve done my job.
First wonder
Why Every Child Deserves That One Big Question
That orbit question made me who I am today. And I believe every kid in India deserves their own spark moment. The first time you look up and feel something bigger. According to The Hindu Education Plus, children exposed to early science conversations are 3x more likely to pursue STEM fields. It starts small—a question about rain, magnets, or why soap bubbles shine. But if someone listens, if someone answers with care, it sticks. If you’re a parent, teacher, or curious adult, ask kids what they’re wondering. Don’t shut them down. Invite the question in. Let it lead you both somewhere new. The day I asked about gravity in space, my teacher didn’t say “you’ll learn that in Class 9.” She said, “They’re falling… sideways.” That one line lit up my life.
Conclusion call
Let Wonder Be Your Guide—And Keep Asking Why
You never know which moment will shape your life. Mine was a sentence in Class 4 that flipped gravity on its head. Yours might still be waiting. Maybe it’s hidden in a sky full of stars, a silly science meme, or your kid’s bedtime question. Keep your mind open. And when in doubt, follow the question—not just the answer. As Carl Sagan said, “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” So ask “why” like a child. Wonder like a scientist. And if this zine sparked something in you—follow along. Let’s share one new spark a day. Maybe your story starts here too.
You can also read this article as a zine on my Linkedin and Instagram.
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