Credit: NASA & Adobe Stock
NASA Astronaut Reveals The Shocking Truth He Learned After Seeing Earth From Space
A former NASA astronaut has shared the shocking truth he learned after seeing Earth from space.
Garrett Reisman, a veteran astronaut who spent 107 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) between 2008 and 2010, recently appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast to share insights about his time in space.
NASA has long been at the forefront of space exploration, bringing us remarkable discoveries – from finding signs of water on Mars to launching groundbreaking telescopes that help us understand the origins of the universe.
Given the agency’s history of astonishing achievements, one might assume that astronauts who leave the planet experience profound emotions when looking down on their home world.
However, Reisman’s reaction tells a different story.
During their conversation, he admitted the shocking truth – that witnessing Earth from space for the first time didn’t quite live up to the grand expectations he had built up beforehand.
Resiman believes we’ve gotten it all wrong when it comes to our expectations of seeing Earth from outer space.
Despite the common perception that seeing Earth from space is a breathtaking and life-changing experience, one former NASA astronaut has revealed that his first look at the planet from orbit left him feeling rather indifferent.
So, why didn’t the view amaze him?
According to Reisman, the answer lies in NASA’s own success at capturing and sharing stunning images of Earth.
The countless high-resolution photographs and videos of our planet had already given him a clear idea of what to expect.
When Rogan asked him to describe the experience, Reisman responded candidly.
“If I had to pick one word to describe what I was feeling at that moment, it would be meh,” he said.
He elaborated further: “Just meh, I mean it was all right, it was pretty. It had a lot of like those Earth colors, blues and greens.
“But man, we’ve all seen pictures of the Earth from space. It was beautiful, but I guess my expectations were so high, I felt like there should be like some heavenly choir.”
While his response might come as a surprise, Reisman’s perspective highlights an interesting phenomenon known as the ‘overview effect.’
This cognitive shift occurs when astronauts see Earth from space and gain a new appreciation for its fragility and interconnectedness.
However, although Reisman is aware of the phenomenon, it wasn’t something that struck him when looking at the earth.
Rather, he claims to have already held this belief about the shared nature of the planet.
“It’s a beautiful sentiment and I don’t want to knock that in any way,” he claims.
“But that didn’t strike me as a realization because I knew that before I went. You shouldn’t have to go up in a rocket to understand that we’re all human beings.”
Despite his initial lack of awe, Reisman acknowledged the importance of this experience and the impact space travel has on one’s worldview.
With an extensive career at NASA, Reisman is no stranger to space travel.
He flew on multiple Space Shuttle missions, including his first aboard the Endeavour, which transported him to the ISS for a 95-day stay.
His extensive time in space and experience with various missions may have also contributed to his high expectations.
Though his first view of Earth may not have been as mind-blowing as he had hoped, there’s no doubt that his contributions to space exploration and his insights into human spaceflight remain invaluable.
To see Reisman’s reaction in real-time, check out his conversation with Joe Rogan below.
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