Yes they do.
Isaac Newton provides the answer. He phrased three very important laws.
1st: A body will remain at rest or at motion with a uniform speed unless it is acted on my an external force.
2nd: The acceleration of a body with a force acting on it is that force divided by the mass of the body (F=ma)
3rd: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
In space, spacecrafts are not standing at a halt but they are moving constantly with a constant speed. The can keep that constant speed because of lack of friction.
Even the satellites that remain on top of a certain spot on the earth's surface (geostatic satellites) are moving along with the rotation of the earth.
The third law answers your question. To change the movement of an object you must put a force on it. So if a spacecraft needs to change position it has to burn fuel to produce kinetic energy and move.
Our experience on earth says that everything eventually stops moving but this is because of friction but there is no friction in space.
2006-06-27 01:40:18
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answer #1
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answered by Gke 3
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For every action is a reaction. Force = Mass X Acceleration. Once a body is in motion, it stays in motion.
Basic physics still works in space, so fuel is needed to change the position of a Spacecraft.
2006-06-27 01:34:25
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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in space a spacecraft only has to use fuel if it wants to change direction or change speed or escape from a gravitational pull
2006-06-27 01:34:31
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answer #3
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answered by Ivanhoe Fats 6
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If there are any that is..... I don't believe they do , cause most reports indicate the people witnessing it heard no motor or jet type noise. It would operate on a far more advanced type of propulsion than we are used to, and i'm guessing some sort of gyroscope type stuff is going on, or maybe even some kind of magnetic energy or something. This is all speculation of course , including the fact that they even actually exist.
2006-06-27 01:36:46
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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Kindly rephrase the question..
2006-06-27 01:34:11
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answer #5
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answered by Jcontrols 6
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maybe sometimes
2006-06-27 01:32:24
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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