Forum Message

Topic: Reply
Posted by: Michael Ixer
Date/Time: 09/05/26 01:37:00

But, Mr Hawkes, don't ignore the comments of astronauts,  some of the best trained test pilots and top scientists and technologists in the world. How can any of us who haven't travelled in space argue with their knowledge and experience? (Yes, Iran may not have open borders, but how many of us want to go there at present.  The few Iranians I've met aren't too keen on returning apart from a couple of students with permission to study maths abroad at Imperial who want to visit family in Iran.)

Key Themes of Astronaut Perspectives (care of Google's summary)

Awe and Beauty: Many astronauts are overwhelmed by the intense beauty of the planet, describing it as "soul-pounding" and vibrant compared to the void of space.

The "Fragile Oasis": The atmosphere is often described as a microscopically thin "soap bubble" protecting all life, which makes the planet look incredibly vulnerable.

Unity and No Borders: Looking down, astronauts note the absence of lines drawn on maps, leading to a strong feeling that national and political divisions are artificial.

The "Overview Effect" Shift: This cognitive shift often transforms astronauts into conservationists, deeply invested in protecting the planet, as they feel a profound connection to all humanity.

And Notable Quotes:

"The thing that really surprised me was that it [Earth] projected an air of fragility. And why, I don't know... I had a feeling it's tiny, it's shiny, it's beautiful, it's home, and it's fragile."
— Michael Collins (Apollo 11)

"I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth."
— Neil Armstrong (Apollo 11)

"From space, you see the fragility of our planet and the urgent need to protect it. We are all astronauts on this spaceship Earth."
— Various Astronauts (Overview Effect)

"We’re all earthlings."
— Mike Foreman (Retired NASA Astronaut)

"It really does look like this really beautiful oasis out in the middle of nothingness."
— Ron Garan (NASA Astronaut)

And Recent Reflections (2025-2026)
Artemis II Crew (2026): Astronauts on Artemis II described looking back at Earth from 100,000+ miles away, noting that the planet appears to be shrinking and that humanity is "one people."
Axiom-4 (2026): Recent reports emphasize that the view never becomes ordinary, with new crew members still being moved to tears by the sight.


Entire Thread
TopicDate PostedPosted By
Polanski speaks07/05/26 15:49:00 Lucille Grant
   Re:Polanski speaks07/05/26 16:06:00 Ivonne Holliday
      Re:Re:Polanski speaks07/05/26 16:43:00 Michael Brigo
         Reply07/05/26 16:54:00 Michael Ixer
         Re:Re:Re:Polanski speaks07/05/26 17:05:00 Sue Hammond
         Re:Re:Re:Polanski speaks08/05/26 13:18:00 John Hawkes
      Re:Re:Polanski speaks07/05/26 16:56:00 Lucille Grant
         Re:Re:Re:Polanski speaks08/05/26 08:54:00 Steven Rose
            Re:Re:Re:Re:Polanski speaks08/05/26 11:37:00 Michael Brigo
               Reply08/05/26 11:45:00 Michael Ixer
               Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Polanski speaks08/05/26 11:59:00 Sue Hammond
                  Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Polanski speaks nonsense08/05/26 12:02:00 Andy Pike
                     Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Polanski speaks nonsense08/05/26 12:26:00 Michael Brigo
                        Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Polanski speaks nonsense08/05/26 12:29:00 Lucille Grant
                           Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Polanski speaks nonsense08/05/26 12:50:00 Michael Brigo
                        Reply08/05/26 12:34:00 Sue Hammond
                        Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Polanski speaks nonsense08/05/26 13:21:00 John Hawkes
               Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Polanski speaks08/05/26 13:29:00 John Hawkes
               Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Polanski speaks08/05/26 15:13:00 Ivonne Holliday
                  Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Polanski speaks08/05/26 17:18:00 Elizabeth Balsom
                     Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Polanski speaks08/05/26 19:11:00 Ivonne Holliday
   Reply08/05/26 12:32:00 Michael Ixer
      Re:Reply08/05/26 12:54:00 Sue Hammond
         Re:Re:Reply08/05/26 13:11:00 Andy Pike
            Re:Re:Re:Reply08/05/26 13:14:00 Jonathan Callaway
               Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply08/05/26 14:08:00 Philippa Bond
                  Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply08/05/26 14:10:00 John Hawkes
                     Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply08/05/26 14:12:00 John Hawkes
                        Reply08/05/26 14:37:00 Sue Hammond
                           Re:Reply08/05/26 19:08:00 Steven Rose
                              Re:Re:Reply08/05/26 21:17:00 Sue Hammond
                              Reply09/05/26 00:08:00 Michael Ixer
                        Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply08/05/26 22:45:00 Philippa Bond
                           Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply09/05/26 00:45:00 Steven Rose
                              Reply09/05/26 01:28:00 Michael Ixer
                     Reply09/05/26 01:37:00 Michael Ixer
                        Re:Reply09/05/26 09:54:00 Steven Rose
                           Reply09/05/26 10:28:00 Sue Hammond
                           Reply09/05/26 10:44:00 Michael Ixer
                              Re:Reply09/05/26 12:01:00 Steven Rose
                                 Reply09/05/26 12:14:00 Michael Ixer
                                    Re:Reply10/05/26 15:00:00 John Hawkes
                                       Reply10/05/26 15:06:00 Michael Ixer

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