When Ron Garan, a former NASA astronaut, spent 178 days in space, he experienced a profound cognitive shift known as the ‘overview effect.’ This phenomenon, common among astronauts, involves a feeling of awe and a realization of the interconnectedness of all life on Earth. Garan’s time on the International Space Station (ISS) gave him a unique perspective on our planet and led to a significant revelation.
The Thinness of Earth’s Atmosphere
The world
Credit: Pixabay
One of Garan’s most striking observations was the thinness of Earth’s atmosphere. He described it as “paper-thin” and crucial for sustaining life on the planet. “When I looked out the window of the International Space Station, I saw the unbelievable thinness of our planet’s atmosphere,” the astronaut said. This realization hit him hard, underscoring the fragility of our life-support system.1
