Astronaut Who Spent 178 Days

Former NASA astronaut Ron Garan, 62, experienced a profound cognitive shift known as the “overview effect” during his 178 days in space. While orbiting Earth from the International Space Station (ISS), he witnessed lightning storms, auroras, and the thinness of the planet’s atmosphere, realizing that this fragile layer sustains all life. Reflecting on his view, Garan concluded that humanity’s focus on the economy above the environment is misguided. He believes we should prioritize the planet, then society, and lastly the economy to continue evolving, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all life on Earth.

Garan’s insights echo those of other astronauts, like Apollo 11’s Michael Collins, who was struck by Earth’s fragility, and Apollo 14’s Edgar Mitchell, who described an “explosion of awareness.” Garan argues that true peace requires recognizing the interrelated nature of reality and moving beyond the illusion of separation. His message is a call to rethink global priorities, urging humanity to value the planet’s well-being over economic gain.