"We came all this way to explore the Moon and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth."

~ NASA Astronaut Bill Anders


What is the Overview Effect?

Astronauts viewing the Earth from from Low Earth Orbit or on lunar missions often experience a shift in identity or worldview:

The Overview Effect.

They recognize that, as humans, our commonalities far outweigh our differences. This awe-inspiring perspective reframes our understanding of the Cosmos, and our relationship with our home planet and each other. The resulting Overview Perspective plays a vital role in helping us cultivate a future of sustainable peace and prosperity for all of humanity.

Frank White first theorized the Overview Effect phenomenon in 1987. Now, much of the world has adopted this framework in describing our innate interconnectedness and it has helped provide astronauts with concepts and language to articulate the profound shift in worldview they experience when viewing the Earth from space and in space.

"Once a photograph of the Earth, taken from the outside, is available, a new idea as powerful as any in history will be let loose." ~ English astronomer Fred Hoyle, 1948

Frank's book **The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution ****is considered by many to be a seminal work in the field of space exploration, making Frank one of the most influential space philosophers of our time.

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Overview Effect on Wikipedia

Overview effect - Wikipedia

earth_upsidedown.jpg

Astronauts viewing the Earth from space often experience a shift in identity or worldview: The Overview Effect.

They recognize that, as humans, our commonalities far outweigh our differences. This awe-inspiring perspective reframes our understanding of the cosmos, and our relationship with our home planet and each other. The resulting Overview Perspective plays a vital role in helping us cultivate a future of sustainable peace and prosperity for all of humanity.

Frank White first theorized the Overview Effect phenomenon in 1987. Now, much of the world has adopted this framework in describing our innate interconnectedness and it has helped provide astronauts with concepts and language to articulate the profound shift in worldview they experience when viewing the Earth from space and in space.

Frank's book **The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution ****is considered by many to be a seminal work in the field of space exploration, making Frank one of the most influential space philosophers of our time.

While each space traveler has their own interpretation of the experience, common characteristics include:

Common Experiences of the Overview Effect

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