The Artemis II mission is an extremely unusual event; it\u2019s the first time since 1972 that humans have traveled outside of the Earth\u2019s orbit.<\/p>\n
The launch was witnessed by millions across the globe, who will also view unique pictures of the fragile blue Earth amid a sea of blackness from space as the spacecraft takes a looping path, transporting the crew around the far side of the Moon and back again.<\/p>\n
Psychological research into the experience of astronauts uncovers the possibility of a profound emotional and mental personal shift, arising from visualizing our planet from the unique perspective of outer space.<\/p>\n
The Overview Effect<\/p>\n
The \u201coverview effect\u201d is a term that was coined to capture the intense emotional reactions to viewing the Earth from space, which transform the way astronauts see the planet and humanity\u2019s place in the universe.<\/p>\n
Findings from a recent study involving astronauts and cosmonauts recruited from the Association of Space Explorers and the NASA astronaut corps at the Johnson Space Center confirm the overview effect, suggesting that seeing the Earth from space inspires a transformation in worldview, highlighting the planet\u2019s fragility and the unity of humankind.<\/p>\n
For example, as quoted in Frank White\u2019s book on the overview effect, Gemini 10 and Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins has said of his experience: \u201cI really believe that if the political leaders of the world could see their planet from a distance of\u2026 100,000 miles, their outlook would be fundamentally changed. That all-important border would be invisible, that noisy argument suddenly silenced. The tiny globe would continue to turn, serenely ignoring its subdivisions, presenting a united facade that would cry out for unified treatment\u201d (pp. 182\u2013183).<\/p>\n
But a Negative Psychological Impact Can Also Happen<\/p>\n
However, alternative research suggests that viewing the planet within the vastness of space can have a more negative psychological impact. A glimpse at the scale of the universe can be an unsettling reminder of the frailty of our perceived self-importance, which can evoke distress, including a sense of insignificance, hopelessness, powerlessness, and dread over the futility of existence.<\/p>\n
Psychologist Arthur Braaten investigated this effect in a research thesis entitled \u201cWhen Facing a Cosmic Perspective: How and Why People React Differently to the Vastness of the Universe,\u201d submitted to the University of Ottawa in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy<\/a> in Clinical Psychology.<\/p>\n His thesis starts with the observation that the universe is approximately 14 billion years old, there are at least 100 billion galaxies, and each galaxy contains, on average, 100 billion stars. Thus, there are at least 10 sextillion stars in the observable universe. To put this in perspective, the number of stars in the observable universe is at least comparable, and perhaps more, than the total number of grains of sand on planet Earth.<\/p>\n When considering these facts, Arthur Braaten asks: How does it make you feel?<\/p>\n One reaction is to feel insignificant when faced with the vastness of the universe, and some might feel so small that they then consider themselves, or humanity, to be no longer worth paying attention<\/a> to.<\/p>\n His research examined why some people have profound positive reactions, feeling awe<\/a>, inspiration, and connection to the bigger picture, while others instead experience profoundly negative responses, such as feeling insignificant and undermined.<\/p>\n Perhaps you may be unconsciously driven to focus on different aspects of the imagery provided by Artemis II.<\/p>\n Cosmic Vastness or the Earth<\/p>\n Arthur Braaten argues that viewing Earth from space is different from cosmic vastness. Focusing on the Earth as a whole represents not only vastness, but a sense of totality. The Earth becomes a symbol of everything that is important to human beings.<\/p>\n This study also points out that the juxtaposition of negative with positive emotions may promote intensity.<\/p>\n