Artemis II crew will get unique perspective of Earth that could alter their view on life forever

Joe Harker
2026-03-27T14:30:55.175Z
News

So many people who have gone to space say it profoundly changes them

When four astronauts set off to try and make it further from our planet then ever before they'll get a chance to look back at the Earth, many who see the view say it changes the way they think.

NASA's Artemis II mission could launch as early as next Wednesday (1 April) provided nothing goes wrong with their preparations, with the astronauts currently in quarantine ahead of their launch window.

If all goes to plan then the four-person crew will set off on a journey of approximately 10 days that takes them around the far side of the Moon and further from our planet than anyone has ever been before.

While in space they may experience the 'overview effect' and could have their perspective on life and humanity changed forever.

Plenty of astronauts have experienced the change in perspective that only comes from being able to look back at the Earth from up in space, and when they look through the windows of their spacecraft they'll be able to see the little speck of rock in the universe where we live.

The next launch window for Artemis II is between 1 and 6 April, so they could set off soon (Aubrey Gemignani/NASA via Getty Images)

What is the overview effect?

The term was invented by the author Frank White in the 1980s and NASA describes the overview effect as a phenomenon that can 'create powerful shifts in the way you think about Earth and life'.

It's a cognitive shift that can leave a person with 'unexpected and overwhelming emotion' as they look down on our planet and realise how connected everything is.

Astronaut Ron Garan said he realised so many people were 'living a lie' when the overview effect struck him on a mission.

He said: "I saw the unbelievable thinness of our planet's atmosphere. In that moment, I was hit with the sobering realisation that that paper-thin layer keeps every living thing on our planet alive.

"I saw an iridescent biosphere teeming with life. I didn't see the economy.

"But since our human-made systems treat everything, including the very life-support systems of our planet, as the wholly owned subsidiary of the global economy, it's obvious from the vantage point of space that we're living a lie."

It triggered a change in his thinking as he said people need to 'move from thinking economy, society, planet to planet, society, economy'.

Fellow astronaut Suni Williams, who spent much longer than expected on the International Space Station, said when she looked down on Earth from space 'we could not see borders or people with different nationalities'.

Of the Artemis II crew only Jeremy Hansen (left) has not previously been to space where he could experience the overview effect (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

What have Artemis II crew said about the overview effect

Of the Artemis II crew, only Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen has not previously been to space to have the chance to look back at Earth.

His fellow crew members have, and have spoken about the way it changed their thoughts and what Hansen might be about to experience.

Artemis II crew member Christina Koch has spoken about the profound change looking down at Earth has on the mind.

She said: "The overview effect is when you’re looking through the cupola and you see the Earth as it exists with the whole universe in the background.

"You see the thin blue line of the atmosphere, and then when you’re on the dark side of the Earth, you actually see this very thin green line that shows you where the atmosphere is.

"What you realize is every single person that you know is sustained and inside of that green line and everything else outside of it is completely inhospitable. You don’t see borders, you don’t see religious lines, you don’t see political boundaries.

"All you see is Earth and you see that we are way more alike than we are different."

Crewmate and pilot Victor Glover compared the feeling to the 'sea level effect', explaining: "You come back to sea level, and then you have a choice. Are you going to try to live your life a little differently? Are you going to really choose to be a member of this community of Earth?"