The mass of an object does not actually change when it is in space; rather, it is the weight of the object that changes due to the varying gravitational pull.
On Earth, an object weighs a certain amount because of the gravitational force acting on it. For example, if you have a 10 kg object, the weight on Earth is calculated using the formula:
Weight = Mass x Gravity
Since gravity on Earth is approximately 9.81 m/s², this would mean:
Weight = 10 kg x 9.81 m/s² = 98.1 N (Newtons)
However, in space, particularly in places far away from significant gravitational fields, such as in orbit around Earth or in deep space, the gravitational pull is much weaker. As a result, the same 10 kg object would weigh significantly less—potentially close to zero—but its mass remains unchanged. In this context, astronauts experience what is often referred to as