Overview effect
The overview effect is a cognitive shift in awareness reported by some astronauts and cosmonauts during spaceflight, often while viewing the Earth from orbit or from the lunar surface.[1][2][3][4][5]
It refers to the experience of seeing firsthand the reality of the Earth in space, which is immediately understood to be a tiny, fragile ball of life, hanging in the void, shielded and nourished by a paper-thin atmosphere. From space, the astronauts tell us,[who?] national boundaries vanish, the conflicts that divide people become less important, and the need to create a planetary society with the united will to protect this "pale blue dot" becomes both obvious and imperative.
Third-hand observers of these individuals may also report a noticeable difference in attitude.[5] Astronauts Rusty Schweikart,[5] Edgar Mitchell,[5] Tom Jones,[5] Chris Hadfield[6] and Mike Massimino are all reported to have experienced the effect.
The term and concept were coined in 1987 by Frank White, who explored them in his book The Overview Effect — Space Exploration and Human Evolution (Houghton-Mifflin, 1987), (AIAA, 1998).[6]
In February 2013, a short film by UK production company Planetary Collective reached more than a million views on the video website Vimeo.[7]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Douglas A. Vakoch (6 July 2011). Psychology of Space Exploration: Contemporary Research in Historical Perspective. Government Printing Office. pp. 29–. ISBN 978-0-16-088358-3. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ Albert A. Harrison (1 April 2007). Starstruck: Cosmic Visions in Science, Religion, and Folklore. Berghahn Books. pp. 92–. ISBN 978-1-84545-286-5. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ Douglas A. Vakoch. On Orbit and Beyond. Springer. pp. 10–. ISBN 978-3-642-30583-2. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "Space Euphoria: Do Our Brains Change When We Travel in Outer Space?", Daily Galaxy, 2008-05-20, webpage: DailyGalaxy-805.
- ^ a b c d e "The Human Brain in Space: Euphoria and the “Overview Effect” Experienced by Astronauts", Ian O'Neill, Universe Today, 2008-05-22, webpage: UToday-522.
- ^ a b "Space Tourism: Face Time with Earth", Leonard David, Senior Space Writer, SPACE.com, 2006-08-05, webpage: Space-ecotourism.
- ^ Overview by Planetary Collective
External links [edit]
- Space Ecotourism, Space.com (2006)
- Overview Institute
- Overview, short film from Planetary Collective
- LinkedIn group
- Speech on The Overview Effect and its Importance in Civilization
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