Viewing the Earth from above the atmosphere is a spectacular experience many can only imagine. Only a select few have had the privilege to travel to space, whether in spacecraft or at the International Space Station, to enjoy a breathtaking view of our planet from orbit.
This incredible sight makes you ponder many aspects of life on Earth, which is exactly what happened to a cosmonaut during his time in space.
Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut, made history over 63 years ago by becoming the first human to travel to space. During his journey, he experienced the ‘overview effect.’ This phenomenon is a cognitive shift that some astronauts report having when viewing Earth from space.
The ‘overview effect’ leads to an overwhelming sense of appreciation and connection to other people and to Earth as a whole, often altering the observer’s personal values. It’s known to make worldly worries seem minimal and to showcase Earth as one interconnected planet.
Ron Garan, another astronaut who spent 178 days in space, also experienced this life-changing phenomenon.
Garan explained to Big Think: “When I looked out from the International Space Station, I saw the paparazzi-like flashes of lightning storms, curtains of auroras seemingly within arm’s reach, and the incredible thinness of our planet’s atmosphere.
“At that moment, I was struck by the sobering realization that this paper-thin layer is what keeps every living thing on our planet alive.
“I saw a vibrant biosphere full of life; I didn’t see economies and borders. But our human-made systems treat everything, including the very life-support systems of our planet, as if they are subservient to the global economy. From space, it becomes undeniably clear that we’re living a lie.”
Upon returning to Earth, Garan has passionately advocated for changing our mindsets from being economy-focused to prioritizing our planet.
Actor William Shatner also shared a similar experience from his space trip, writing: “It was one of the strongest feelings of grief I have ever encountered. The stark contrast between the coldness of space and the warm nurturing Earth below filled me with overwhelming sadness. Every day, we face evidence of our continued destruction of Earth: the extinction of animal species, flora, and fauna—things that took five billion years to evolve, now disappearing due to human interference.”
Environmental concerns often become a primary focus for those who view Earth from space. Garan concluded by saying, “We won’t have peace on Earth until we recognize the fundamental truth of the interconnected structure of all reality.”
