Once a satellite has been launched into orbit, the only force governing its motion is the force of ______ .

gravity

The correct answer is option 3. gravity.

Once a satellite has been launched into orbit, the only force governing its motion is the force of Gravity.

Once a satellite is in orbit, it experiences essentially no air resistance or frictional forces, and it is too far from Earth's surface for significant elastic interactions to occur. Therefore, the primary force governing its motion is the force of gravity, which keeps it in orbit around the Earth.