Why don't satellites in orbit fly off into space?

Satellites in orbit don't fly off into space because they are in a continuous state of free fall towards Earth, which creates a balance between gravitational pull and their forward velocity. This results in a stable orbit where the satellite moves fast enough that the curvature of its path matches the curvature of the Earth. Essentially, they are falling towards the planet but also moving forward, creating a circular or elliptical path around it. This balance between gravitational force and inertial motion keeps them in orbit.