(3) Continue to follow the motion of the satellite Explanation: An orbiting satellite is a projectile in the sense that the only force acting upon an orbiting satellite is the force of gravity. A satellite is acted upon by the force of gravity and this force does accelerate it towards the Earth. In the absence of gravity a satellite would move in a straight line path tangent to the Earth. In the absence of any forces whatsoever, an object in motion (such as a satellite) would continue in motion with the same speed and in the same direction.