Overview effect

[1][4] Broadly, Yaden et al. (2016) state that the most prominent common aspects of the astronauts' experience were appreciation and perception of beauty, unexpected and even overwhelming emotion, and an increased sense of connection to other people and the Earth as a whole.

[6] Yaden et al. (2016) write that some astronauts viewing Earth from space "report overwhelming emotion and feelings of identification with humankind and the planet as a whole".

[9] He described a "big difference" between professional astronauts, who are focused on their missions—versus people who have recently been going into space "with an intention to have an experience" and who may already be aware of the overview effect.

[12] Preliminarily, Bimm noted that studies of early test pilots' negative-experience break-off phenomenon ended in 1973 (displaced by White's "positive conversion narrative"), that astronauts in a "lie to fly" culture feel career pressure to avoid reporting negative psychological reactions, and that individuals already aware of the overview effect may make it a self-fulfilling prophecy.

[12] He posited that it was Cold War and mastery-of-Earth mentalities of Western technological supremacy that contributed to the rise of borderless-world concepts such as the Gaia hypothesis, spaceship Earth, and the Blue Marble.

[1] Hoyle said that people suddenly seemed to care about protecting Earth's natural environment, though others attribute that awareness to Rachel Carson's 1962 book Silent Spring and reactions to several environmental disasters in the 1960s.

[11] White's work did not attain broad influence until the 2010s—a period of increased societal divisions and a new prospect of private space travel.

[14] Michael Collins,[16] Yuri Gagarin,[6] Ron Garan,[10][17] Chris Hadfield,[18] James Irwin,[6] Mae Jemison,[18] Scott Kelly,[19] André Kuipers,[20] Jerry Linenger,[18] Mike Massimino,[18] Anne McClain,[21] Leland Melvin,[18] Edgar Mitchell,[22] Sian Proctor,[23] Rusty Schweickart,[22] William Shatner,[24] and Nicole Stott[18] are among those reported to have experienced the effect.

[16] Edgar Mitchell (Apollo 14; 1971) described it as an "explosion of awareness" and an "overwhelming sense of oneness and connectedness... accompanied by an ecstasy... an epiphany".

[4] Besides being an enjoyable experience, such phenomena can have short and long-term positive outcomes such as increased well-being, pro-social and pro-environmental attitudes, and improved physical health.

"[29] At one point the Skylab 4 (1970s) crew refused to work, asserting, in the flight director's words, "their needs to reflect, to observe, to find their place amid these baffling, fascinating, unprecedented experiences".

[1] The accumulating experience of astronauts and space tourists inspires in many of them a strong desire to protect the Earth by actively communicating their broadened perspective, for example by speaking at international climate summits.

[30] Critics note, however, that the space travel needed to personally experience the full overview effect, itself involves significant environmental pollution.

[1] Researchers have found that virtual reality (VR) technology elicits components of awe-based experiences and can induce minor cognitive shifts in participants' world views similar to those of the overview effect.

[2] Perceived safety, personal background and familiarity with the environment, and induction of a small visceral fear reaction, were found to be key contributors to the immersive experience.

[31] Within a mobile, rocket-shaped vehicle more than 15 metres (49 ft) in length, Spacebuzz's nine moving seats and virtual reality (VR) headsets simulate spaceflight in an experience designed especially for children.

[31] Researchers at the University of Missouri tried to reproduce the experience with a water-filled flotation tank, half a tonne of Epsom salts, and a waterproof VR headset.

[11] A 1957 article in The Journal of Aviation Medicine studied the break-off phenomenon, which it defined as "a feeling of physical separation from the earth when piloting an aircraft at high altitude".

[35] Researchers summarized pilots' descriptions as "a feeling of being isolated, detached, or separated physically from the earth" or as a perception of "somehow losing their connection with the world".

Earthrise (1968). Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders recalled, "When I looked up and saw the Earth coming up on this very stark, beat-up Moon horizon, I was immediately almost overcome with the thought, 'Here we came all this way to the Moon, and yet the most significant thing we're seeing is our own home planet, the Earth. ' " [ 1 ]
Astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson "Earth gazing" in the Cupola module of the International Space Station , a practice found to have positive psychological effects, one that is especially important in coping with the demands of spaceflight [ 5 ]
The Blue Marble —Earth as seen by the crew of Apollo 17 in 1972. Early photos of Earth taken from space inspired a mild version of the overview effect in earthbound non-astronauts, and became prominent symbols of environmental concern. [ 1 ]
The Thin Blue Line photograph was taken from the International Space Station in 2009. [ 15 ] Author Frank White's description of interviews with astronauts emphasized their perception of the "striking thinness of the atmosphere". [ 9 ]
Images of Earth taken from space, which can cause a mild version of the overview effect, have become prominent symbols of environmental concern. [ 1 ] Shown: Earth Day demonstration, 2010.
The touring Spacebuzz module uses virtual reality technology to simulate spaceflight for children. [ 31 ]