Former NASA astronaut Ron Garan says seeing Earth from space changed his view on human society forever.
The Overview Effect
Many astronauts experience a spiritual shift called the “overview effect.” Garan spent 178 days in space during his career. He traveled over 71 million miles and completed 2,842 orbits. From above, he saw Earth as a glowing ball in total darkness. This view makes borders and human conflicts look meaningless.
A Sobering Sight
Garan watched lightning storms and bright auroras from the station window. However, the thin atmosphere hit him the hardest. “In that moment, I was hit with the sobering realization that that paper-thin layer keeps every living thing on our planet alive.” He realized this tiny layer protects all life on Earth.
The Global Lie
Garan believes our human systems focus too much on the economy. He saw a biosphere teeming with life instead of financial markets. “It’s obvious from the vantage point of space that we’re living a lie.” He says we treat our life-support systems as parts of the economy. Instead, we should prioritize the health of our planet.
Feeling Deeply Connected
The astronaut felt a strong kinship with everyone on the ground. He described this as an overwhelming and profound experience. “Being completely detached from Earth also made me feel deeply connected with everyone on the planet.” Now, Garan leads a nonprofit to provide clean water to nations. He hopes his story inspires people to protect our shared home.