The Artemis II mission is a very rare event; it is the first time since 1972 that humans have traveled outside the Earth’s orbit.
The launch was seen by millions of people around the world, who will also watch the unique images of the blue Earth breaking into a dark ocean from space as the spacecraft takes a glide path, carrying the crew around the far side of the Moon and back again.
Psychological research on the experience of astronauts reveals the possibility of profound emotional and psychological change, which comes from seeing our planet from the unique perspective of space.
Summary of Effect
“Overview” is a term coined to capture the powerful emotional response to observing Earth from space, which is changing the way astronauts see the planet and humanity’s place in the universe.
Findings from a recent study involving astronomers and cosmonauts enrolled in the Association of Space Explorers and NASA Johnson Space Center constellations confirm the general effect, suggesting that seeing the Earth from space prompts a change in worldview, highlighting the fragility of the planet and the unity of mankind.
For example, as quoted in Frank White’s book on the general effect, Gemini 10 and Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins said of his experience: “I truly believe that if the political leaders of the world could see their planet from afar… keep turning, quietly ignoring its divisions, presenting a united face that would cry out for unity” (p. 182–183).
But Bad Psychological Influence Can Also Happen
However, some research suggests that viewing the planet in a large space can have a more negative psychological impact. Glimpsing the vastness of the universe can be a depressing reminder of perceived weakness, which can trigger despair, including feelings of insignificance, hopelessness, powerlessness, and fear of lifelessness.
Psychologist Arthur Braaten investigated this effect in a research study entitled “Confronting the View of the Universe: How and Why People Behave Differently in the Universe,” submitted to the University of Ottawa in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology.
His conclusion begins with the fact that the universe is about 14 billion years old, there are about 100 billion galaxies, and each galaxy, on average, contains 100 billion stars. So, there are at least 10 sextillion stars in the visible universe. To put this in perspective, the number of stars in the visible universe is at least comparable, and possibly more, than the total number of grains of sand on planet Earth.
Examining these facts, Arthur Braaten asks: How does it make you feel?
One way they react is to feel helpless in the face of the vastness of the universe, and some may feel so small that their self, or humanity, is no longer worthy of attention.
His research explored why some people have positive emotions, feeling awe, inspiration, and connection to the bigger picture, while others have more negative responses, such as feeling worthless and worthless.
You may be unconsciously driven to focus on different aspects of the imagery provided by Artemis II.
Cosmic or Earthly Heights
Arthur Braaten argues that observing the Earth from space is different from the size of the universe. Focusing on the Earth as a whole stands not only for size, but for general perception. The world becomes a symbol of everything that is important to people.
This study also shows that the combination of negative emotions and positive emotions can promote strength.
Experiences of fear and high levels can be accompanied by fear, panic, feeling dangerous, and feeling overwhelmed.
According to me Oxford English Dictionary, wonder can be traced back to the Old English word so an Old German word eye, and the first Scandinavian word but all of which mean panic, panic and panic.
It was only around the 16th century that the experiences of reverence and worship entered into the understanding of fear. Fear and terror were then distinguished from each other.
Perhaps your response depends on how you accept or process these profound experiences. Perhaps if people cannot accept the greatness, this causes confusion, confusion, fear, fear and powerlessness.
How Small You Feel Against the Vast Universe
The study found that a strong predictor of how you reacted to the universe’s infinite manifestations was self-esteem.
Those with high self-esteem may seem more likely to see the universe as an opportunity for self-aggrandizement and even embrace self-criticism.
On the other hand, those with low self-esteem would perceive the size of the universe as a threat to them, thus resisting feelings of isolation, and subsequently experiencing more negative feelings.
Fear and Fear
William Shatner, the famous actor who played Captain Kirk in the TV series Star Trek and some of its feature films, traveled briefly into space in an independent commercial rocket.
He is quoted as saying:
“That beauty [of Earth]the beauty of the process of evolution, I was deeply affected at that moment because when I looked in the other direction, in the sky, there was no mystery, no incredible fear to see… all I saw was death. I saw a cold, dark, black loneliness. It was unlike any blackness you can see or feel on Earth. It was deep, enveloping, all-encompassing. I looked back into his light. I could see the curvature of the Earth, the blue of the desert, the white of the clouds and the blue of the sky. It was life. I discovered that beauty isn’t out there, it’s down here, with all of us. Letting go of that made my connection with our little planet even stronger.”
It was the contrast of size and mortality of the universe, the combination of fear and suffering and the feeling of color and life in the world, which made William Shatner very happy to be alive.
While the whole planet is watching the work of Artemis II in progress, it is possible that the spacecraft and leaving the orbit of our Earth, ironically, gives the opportunity, psychologically, to, finally, unite our world.
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